Yeti Bear: What DNA Reveals about the Abominable Snowman

Could the infamous Yeti be a descendant of an ancient polar bear? Of course, at this point, no one is certain, but Oxford University genetics professor Bryan Sykes believes that the mythic creature could potentially be from a different part of the Ursidae family. (Which comes from the Ursus genus, meaning 'bear' in Latin.)

"The yeti, also known as the abominable snowman or bigfoot, has been recorded for centuries in the Himalayas. Local people and mountaineers claim to have come face-to-face with hairy, ape-like creatures," states an article via The Guardian, regarding a photograph of an alleged Yeti footprint, taken by British climber Eric Shipton at the base of Everest in 1951.

Many scientists have been skeptical of such a creature's existence, and some have even chosen to ignore all possiblity. Yet some have pursued the subject even more.

While looking at a DNA analysis, Sykes compared DNA hair samples via mummified remains of alleged Yetis discovered by two local residents to a database of animal genomes, according to The Associated Press. To his surprise, he found that they actually shared a genetic fingerprint with a polar bear jawbone in the Norwegian Arctic from at least 40,000 years ago.

While many researchers had believed that Yetis could be descendants of Himalayan bears, Sykes' research shows otherwise.

"It may be a new species, it may be a hybrid," he said, discussing his findings between both polar and brown bears. "The next thing is to go there and find one."

According to Sykes, he describes the creature living in the Himalayas to be around five feet tall and much smaller than mythological stories depicting the monstrous beast. Yet the color of the animals hair seems to hold true to the myth, with a brownish, thick fur. Other things, too, could potentially be true about these creatures--if they exist. 

"The fact that the hunter, who had great experience of bears, thought this one was in some way unusual and was frightened of it, makes me wonder if this species of bear might behave differently," Sykes adds. "Maybe it is more aggressive, more dangerous or is more bipedal than other bears."

But then again, only predictions can be made, after all. 

What do you think?