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The mummified remains of an ancient puppy could be used to bring its species back from the dead after being frozen in time for almost 12,500 years. The remains were found near River Syalakh in Russia’s Sakha Republic.
Experts have thawed the animal, ahead of a full and official post mortem, to discover its brain is still surprisingly ‘well preserved.’
Experts are examining whether the animal was a pet.
Controversial cloning guru Hwang Woo-suk has also taken samples in a bid to bring the extinct species back to life.
Russian expert Dr Pavel Nikolsky, research fellow of the Geological Institute, Moscow, said:
‘The degree of preservation is about 70 to 80 per cent.’
‘Of course, it has dried out somewhat, but the both parencephalon, cerebellum and pituitary gland are visible.’
‘We can say that this is the first time we have obtained the brain of a Pleistocene canid.’
‘It is the first intact brain of a predator from this era.’
Cloning specialist Professor Hwang Woo-suk said he was ‘satisfied with the degree of preservation’ on the more recent discovery and said he was ‘very excited’.
He took the samples from the skin, muscles and ear cartilage.
A search is underway for ‘parasites – ticks, fleas’ on the prehistoric dog.
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