Scientists say they are 'confident' they will be able to clone an extinct horse ...

Scientists are 'confident of success' in extracting cells from a 42,000 year old extinct foal in order to clone its prehistoric species back to life, say reports.

They see the 'Jurassic Park' attempt to restore the long-gone Lenskaya breed of horse as paving the way for later success in returning the giant woolly mammoth.

The light ginger-coloured foal - no more than two weeks old when it died - was preserved in near perfect condition in Siberian permafrost for 42,170 years, say experts.

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The light ginger-coloured foal - no more than two weeks old when it died - was preserved in near perfect condition in Siberian permafrost for 42,170 years, say experts

The light ginger-coloured foal - no more than two weeks old when it died - was preserved in near perfect condition in Siberian permafrost for 42,170 years, say experts

Scientists are 'confident of success' in extracting cells from a 42,000 year old extinct foal in order to clone its prehistoric species back to life, say reports

Scientists are 'confident of success' in extracting cells from a 42,000 year old extinct foal in order to clone its prehistoric species back to life, say reports

Scientists forming a joint Russian-South Korean research team say they are 'confident of success' in extracting cells from a 42,000 year old extinct foal in order to clone its prehistoric species back to life

Scientists forming a joint Russian-South Korean research team say they are 'confident of success' in extracting cells from a 42,000 year old extinct foal in order to clone its prehistoric species back to life

After several months of intense work on the frozen baby horse, a joint Russian-South Korean research team are growing optimistic that they will obtain the cells needed to attempt to clone the extinct cold-resistant Lenskaya breed which died out some 4,000 years ago. 

'Researchers are confident of success of the project,' said a source at the North East Federal University in Yakutsk - the world's coldest city - which is hosting the work, reported The Siberian Times.

'The attempts will continue until the end of April this year.' These are the first pictures showing the pioneering work to extract cells for the foal cloning attempt.

Work is so advanced that the team is reportedly choosing a mother for the historic role of giving birth to the ancient horse. 

The international research team is led by South Korean cloning expert Professor Hwang Woo-suk, who is also closely involved in efforts to use remains of woolly mammoths preserved in permafrost bring the giants back to life.

Dr Lena Grigoryeva, a leading Russian researcher on the project, said: 'There are seven researchers involved in the (foal) project on the Korean side and everyone is positive about the outcome.'

Work is so advanced that the team is reportedly already choosing a surrogate mother for the historic role of giving birth to the ancient horse

Work is so advanced that the team is reportedly already choosing a surrogate mother for the historic role of giving birth to the ancient horse

The international research team is led by South Korean cloning expert Professor Hwang Woo-suk, who is also closely involved in efforts to use remains of woolly mammoths preserved in permafrost bring the giants back to life

The international research team is led by South Korean cloning expert Professor Hwang Woo-suk, who is also closely involved in efforts to use remains of woolly mammoths preserved in permafrost bring the giants back to life

'Researchers are confident of success of the project,' said a source at the North East Federal University in Yakutsk - the world's coldest city - which is hosting the work, reported The Siberian Times

'Researchers are confident of success of the project,' said a source at the North East Federal University in Yakutsk - the world's coldest city - which is hosting the work, reported The Siberian Times 

Scientists will use horses (pictured) that are similar to the extinct Lenskaya breed. It could be the first step in working out how to restore the long-gone woolly mammoth

Scientists will use horses (pictured) that are similar to the extinct Lenskaya breed. It could be the first step in working out how to restore the long-gone woolly mammoth

A mare of a horse species similar to the extinct Lenskaya breed will be used as a surrogate. Similarly, when the scientists are ready to clone a mammoth an elephant will be used as a surrogate

A mare of a horse species similar to the extinct Lenskaya breed will be used as a surrogate. Similarly, when the scientists are ready to clone a mammoth an elephant will be used as a surrogate

'We have so many live horses (pictured). We can get a very good choice of eggs from these female horses', said Dr Semyon Grigoriev, leading researcher at Russia's mammoth Museum

'We have so many live horses (pictured). We can get a very good choice of eggs from these female horses', said Dr Semyon Grigoriev, leading researcher at Russia's mammoth Museum

COULD WE RESURRECT MAMMOTHS?

Male woolly mammoths were around 12 feet (3.5m) tall, while the females were slightly smaller.

They had curved tusks up to 16 feet (5m) long and their

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