NEFU Institute of Applied Ecology of the North presented the International Center for collective use "Molecular Paleontology" on March 17. The center is equipped with laboratory and office areas, cryostorage - here scientists from around the world will be able to conduct scientific research.

NEFU Rector Evgenia Mikhailova, head of SOAAM Biotech Research Foundation Hwang Woo Suk and director of NEFU Institute of Applied Ecology of the North Grigory Savvinov attended the opening of the center. The center's equipment was purchased at the expense of Professor Hwang Woo Suk.

Research works are already being conducted at the laboratory. Ivan Popov, NEFU student of Medical Institute, demonstrated the sample of venous vessel of Malolyakhovsky mammoth and hemolyzed blood on the equipment. "The center is ready to train students and scientists can work here. It is important to study bioinformatics for the full training of students ", the head of the laboratory of the Museum of mammoth NEFU Semyon Grigoriev said.

"In this laboratory we will explore the remains of ancient fossils: to work with samples of soft tissues, bones, hair to extract DNA from them. Now we have all the skills for DNA extraction from human material, now we'll do it on the materials of ancient animals”, the third-year students of NEFU Institute of Natural Sciences Ivan Bochurov and Nurguyana Vasilieva said.

Laboratory is a "clean room", the main conditions for work here is sterility. There is already installed freezer, maintaining the temperature of -86 degrees by Celsius. "The main equipment is already installed, but new tools continue to arrive from Moscow”, Dr. Grigory Savvinov said.

Thijs van Kolfschoten, Professor of paleozoology and biostratigraphy of the University of Leiden (Netherlands), reported that Dutch university is ready to accept NEFU students. "We have a biomolecular research group. Your students can learn our modern methods of molecular research and share their knowledge in paleontology", Professor van Kolfskhoten said.

Professor Hwang Woo Suk was asked at the opening of the center: "What is a living cell?" He replied: "If the sample is well preserved, if it has all biochemical processes, it continues to divide. These cells can be used for research. If we will find such mammoth cell, we will try to fertilize Asian elephant using selected materials". Korean scientists is already known for the best experience of cloning a dog worldwide.