Scientists have reconstructed the genome of a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth, bringing the extinct species closer to potential resurrection. Unearthed in Siberia, the remarkably preserved mammoth fossil contained DNA fragments, allowing researchers to map its entire genome with unparalleled detail. Unlike previous specimens, this fossil's DNA retained significant structural integrity, including the proteins associated with gene activity. This research marks the first time that scientists have been able to identify which genes were active in the mammoth's skin cells. The study's success relied on comparisons with the genomes of modern-day elephants, revealing that woolly mammoths had 28 chromosomes, the same as their living relatives. The achievement not only offers a deeper understanding of woolly mammoth biology but also fuels contemporary efforts to resurrect the species through de-extinction technologies. Researchers are hopeful that the methods used in this study could pave the way for similar analyses of other ancient DNA specimens.