Extinction schmitinction! Sure, woolly mammoths have been gone from the face of the earth for thousands of years, but science is constantly evolving and could bring one back one day -- and likely sooner rather than later. If humans can clone sheep, why not a species that is no longer with us?
Oh, right. We need the DNA. It's a rather large obstacle, but it seems scientists may be closer to overcoming it. In the new Discovery Channel special "Woolly Mammoth: Secrets From the Ice," the program explores the possibilities that arise should a well-preserved carcass be discovered.
An exclusive clip from the special shared with TODAY.com shows scientists working with an intact thigh bone that contains pure mammoth bone marrow and may hold undamaged DNA that could be used for cloning. The plan? To use the cells and an elephant to create a baby mammoth. Check it out:
"Secrets From the Ice" also follows mammoth hunter Bernard Buiges as he discovers Yuka, a preserved frozen mammoth carcass in Siberia. According to Discovery, the remains might be the first to show signs of mammoth-human interaction in that part of the globe.
"Woolly Mammoth: Secrets From the Ice" airs on Saturday, June 16, at 8 p.m. on Discovery.
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