| Keyword |
Description |
| Mammoth |
An enormous Ice Age relative of elephants that lived in North America |
| Fossil |
The preserved remains or traces of ancient plants or animals found in the ground |
| DNA |
The genetic code inside cells that helps scientists learn how living things are related |
Workers building a new airport near Mexico City dug up a giant surprise: thousands of Ice Age bones, including pieces from at least 500 Columbian mammoths. Archaeologists and scientists rushed in and carefully collected more than 70,000 fossils from mammoths, camels, horses, giant ground sloths, wolves, deer, and other ancient animals. Columbian mammoths were elephant‑like giants that could stand about 4 meters tall and weigh up to 12 tons, bigger than their woolly cousins from colder places.
A team from UNAM gently drilled tiny dust from mammoth teeth to look for DNA, which is like a set of instructions inside every living thing. Even in warm Mexico, over 80% of the teeth still had DNA, making this the first genetic study of tropical mammoths. The results showed that mammoths in the Basin of Mexico were different from ones farther north, and the mix of male and female fossils suggests they lived together in family groups. The project, published in the journal Science, included many Mexican experts and two determined college students, and it is helping scientists learn more about Ice Age life. Now the team is also studying DNA from horses, camels, bison, and deer found at the site to keep uncovering Mexico’s ancient story. Teamwork and careful science turned a construction delay into a time‑travel discovery.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Mammoth |
Mamut |
| Fossil |
Fósil |
| DNA |
ADN |
Time to discuss
- Why should builders and scientists work together when ancient bones are discovered during big projects?
- What can DNA from teeth tell us that bones alone cannot?
- How might mammoth families staying together help them survive, and what risks could that bring?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Write a short diary entry from a young scientist on the day a mammoth tooth with DNA is found.
- Explain how finding many fossils in one place can change what we think about the past.
