Key ideas: science 5

The Truth About Yetis

1. For centuries, sightings of yetis—giant, shy, shaggy-haired monsters have captured the imaginations of people all over the world. But what is the yeti, for real?
2. Until recently, no one knew for sure. But thanks to science, and the dedicated work of some curious researchers, we now have answers.
3. Not long ago, a team of scientists from around the world conducted an in-depth DNA study of nine yeti samples. Let’s clarify here. They did a DNA study from samples that people believed to be from yetis. All of the samples came from the Himalayan and Tibetan regions in Asia. Some of the specimens were very old—some were newer. Among the samples were a scrap of skin kept in a Buddhist monastery, a shard of bone found in a cave, and a hair sample collected by a priest in Nepal.
4. After the DNA testing, the answer was clear—the strange mythological beast had the DNA of a bear. DNA is the unique code that makes up each living thing. It’s like an instruction book that tells a body’s cells to behave in a certain way. A parakeet can only have a parakeet’s DNA, and a human can only have a human’s DNA. If unicorns were real, they would have DNA that instructed their skulls to sprout horns.
5. When researchers looked closely at the yeti cell samples, they found that the DNA matched the DNA of various bears. The skin had the same cells as other Asian black bears, and the bone had the same cells as other Tibetan brown bears.
6. The modern-day story of the yeti may have turned out to be less than magical. But it’s still exciting because it shows us how DNA research can answer some enduring questions of our world.