Genetic material from bison bones collected at Wyoming archaeological sites — and housed at the University of Wyoming — played a key role in a sweeping study about the history of the iconic species in North America.
The study — which involved researchers from more than 30 institutions and organizations, including Wyoming State Archaeologist Spencer Pelton at UW — appeared in Science.
The scientists sequenced 115 ancient and 45 modern bison genomes from across North America to show how the animals have evolved over the past 20,000 years, including the human-driven collapse that nearly led to their extinction by the start of the 20th century.
PHOTO: Bison in Fall in Wyoming. (Adobe Stock-#258769683 │ natureguy)
