Ötzi the Iceman, the well-preserved and well-studied mummy of a man who died 5,300 years ago, is a “dynamic ecosystem” of microbes, some of which have stayed viable for millennia, according to new research.In a comprehensive DNA analysis of the microbes inside and out of Ötzi’s mummified body, scientists linked several species of fungi to the chilly mountain environment where he died; they likely colonized his corpse and froze with it. The fungi’s natural resistance to cold kept them dormant but still alive and capable of reviving, even after thousands of years, according to research published last week in the journal Microbiome.In fact, some of the microbes “are not merely dormant relics” but may be multiplying slowly in micropockets of mummy moisture, the study authors reported. This growth suggests that microbial longevity and activity in ancient remains may be greater than once thought and should be taken into account during such remains’ storage and handling, according to the study.AdvertisementAdvertisement“In many studies of DNA from ancient human remains, the microbial DNA is largely ignored, and it’s often not clear if the microbial DNA that is recovered is as old as the human body itself or more recent contamination,” Anders Bergström, a researcher in evolutionary genomics at the UK’s University of East Anglia, told CNN in an email. “This study of Ötzi now provides some fascinating insights into this.” Bergström was not involved in the new research.Scientists hypothesized that Ötzi had no human companions with him when he breathed his last on the frigid Ötztal Alps — but he wasn’t truly alone. Trillions of microbes populated his living body and lingered in his corpse, including some that came from the site where he died.“These microbes give us a unique and precious snapshot of what the human g …
