"Revolutionary: Woolly Rhino DNA Recovered from Hyena Scat"
Scientists have reconstructed the mitochondrial genome of a European Woolly Rhinoceros for the first time by extracting DNA from fossilized hyena feces, shedding light on the species' population dynamics and genetic distinctiveness from the Siberian population. The research, published in Biology Letters, suggests a split in populations dating back around 450,000 years ago and highlights the potential for further insights into extinct species and future wildlife populations through the study of ancient DNA.
