Some 400 years ago , a rambling goat - antelope pass away out for a walk in the Alps and never returned home . The unfortunate wildcat became buried in snow and lost beneath a glacier for hundred until the frozen body was lately revealed by the mountain ’s receding glaciers . After a chance breakthrough , scientist are now using this unlikely hero to ascertain how to deal with preserved frozen mummies without damaging theirancient DNA .
The dead body of the 400 - year - one-time chamois , a species of goat - antelope aboriginal to mountains in Europe , was incur after a six - time of day salary increase up the snowy mountains of Val Aurina in South Tyrol , Italy . “Only one-half of the animal ’s body was endanger from the snow . The skin appear like leather , wholly hairless ; I had never seen anything like it . I immediately took a photo and get off it to the common ranger , together we then notified the Department of Cultural Heritage , ” Hermann Oberlechner , who initially discovered the body , said in astatement .
With the service of the Alpine Army Corps mountain rescue squad , the chamois was helicoptered down the pot and eventually ended up at the Eurac Research Conservation Laboratory in a refrigerated cell at -5 ° C ( 23 ° F ) . The squad now hope to use the iced cadaver has a poser to interpret how ancient DNA can be better carry on in other ancient iced mummies .
" Our goal is to utilize scientific datum to modernize a globally valid conservation communications protocol for ice mummies . This is the first time an animal mommy has been used in this style , " enjoin Albert Zink , Director of the Institute for Mummy Studies at Eurac Research .
Perhaps the most well - known internal-combustion engine momma isÖtzi the Iceman , a gentleman who died over 5,000 years in the frosty Alpine mountains on the border between Austria and Italy . Because this unlucky guy became buried in frozen ice , his body is unmistakably well preserved , allow scientists to deduce an unbelievable amount about his life . We have sex he was atattooed hunterwith abad heartand gut sponger . It ’s also clear-cut he wasmurdered by another human being , as shown by the arrowhead found in his left-hand articulatio humeri .
Ötzi ’s excellent condition is a bit of an exception , even in comparison to other glacier mama . However , with the help of this frozenchamois , ice ma that are yet to be discovered might fare well once they make their way into the hand of researchers .
" Thanks to our previous studies we know the optimal strong-arm and chemic parameters for preservation from a microbiological point of view . In the laboratory , we will institute the shammy leather to those conditions and focus on their effects on DNA . With repeated in - depth analysis we will affirm what alteration the DNA undergoes when outside conditions transfer , " explain Marco Samadelli , a conservation expert at Eurac Research .
