Ultramodern DNA extraction and sequencing techniques are now allowing scientists to decode ancient evolutionary tales. 

In July, researchers were able to extract and sequence the genome of an ancient horse from a foot bone found frozen in Canada's Yukon Territory. It clocked in at 700,000 years old, blowing the previous record-holder out of the water. 

Then, a few months later, another team published the genome of a cave bear from Spain. While the bear was younger — only 400,000 years old — its bones hadn't been preserved in permafrost for millennia like the horse's, which makes the feat all the more impressive. 

Now those same researchers are turning their attention to the genomes of ancient humans. 

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