# Ancient DNA shows bison retained genetic diversity despite near extinction 2026-08-13T13:46:52+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A study published in Science on 6 August and led by the University of California has mapped the deepest genetic history of the North American bison, using DNA from 115 animals that lived before the species crashed from tens of millions to a few hundred. The research, which combined ancient genomes with modern samples, found that genetic diversity survived the 20th-century collapse better than expected. The real legacy was fragmentation, isolated herds lost connectivity due to early conservation efforts, not a wipeout of diversity. The findings also revealed that modern wood bison carry plains bison ancestry from 1920s translocations, while cattle ancestry is far rarer than assumed. The Times of India reports that the study is already being used to guide herd management. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: ancient DNA, bison, conservation, genetic diversity, Science journal, wildlife management Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ancient-dna-shows-bison-retained-genetic-diversity-despite-near-extinction/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ancient-dna-shows-bison-retained-genetic-diversity-despite-near-extinction/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.