A scientist by the name of Campbell wanted to find out how the woolly mammoth lived and adapted to such cold climates. Fossils show they originated in the subtropics of Africa, then migrated to Siberia less than two million years ago. DNA is the building block of life, giving each of us our traits. There are two specific types of DNA: simple loops located in the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, and complex DNA which is located the …show more content…
The first allele was changed compared to an African elephant by a single nucleotide, the second had three more mutations, and one of those three had a less active pigmentation gene. This resulted in some mammoths’ hair being blond. This same mutation was also believed to be found in Neanderthals. Thanks to this discovery, we now know the origin of some mammoths’ blond hair.
It has been proven that all large cold-climate mammals have a system (rete mirabile) of arteries and veins that helps heats up the blood leaving the core and the cold blood returns to their heart. This system allows fewer calories to be used and chemical bonds to release heat energy. DNA testing also showed that one mammoth globin gene is different compared to African elephants. The so called “rush” gene changes some properties, reducing temperature sensitivity and releasing more oxygen in the cold. This allowed the mammoths to live in cold