Which living relative is genetically closest to *Mammuthus primigenius* according to genetic studies?
Answer
Asian elephants
Genetic analyses have provided critical clarity on mammoth ancestry, establishing that the woolly mammoth's closest living relatives are the Asian elephants. This contrasts with earlier assumptions or simple geographic proximity that might suggest a closer link to African elephants. The evolutionary lineage leading to mammoths separated from the ancestors of modern elephants much earlier in the timeline, approximately 7.6 million years ago, setting them on a distinct path, though the Asian elephant lineage retained more shared genetic material with the mammoths than the African elephant lineage did.
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Evolution of the woolly mammoth - BBC science - YouTube
Related Questions
Which living relative is genetically closest to *Mammuthus primigenius* according to genetic studies?What biome characterized the preferred habitat of the woolly mammoth, *Mammuthus primigenius*?What approximate time separated the divergence of the woolly mammoth lineage from the Columbian mammoth lineage?Which species is cited as the earliest known member of the *Mammuthus* genus, dating back about 5 million years?What key evolutionary features evolved significantly later in the timeline of *M. primigenius* based on ancient DNA sequencing?What specific genetic markers did studies identify as conferring cold tolerance in mammoths?What process explains the woolly mammoth's evolutionary story driven by global climate shifts?Which geographical area is suggested as the likely origin point for the *Mammuthus* species expansion?What characterized the defining difference between the evolutionary focus of early *Mammuthus* and later *M. primigenius* features?Until approximately when did the relict population of woolly mammoths survive exclusively on Wrangel Island?What factors are considered probable contributors to the extinction of the mainland woolly mammoth populations?