Close study of the pathogen's DNA suggests that its voracious spread, during which it constantly evolved and adapted to new environments,
ultimately led to its extinction, perhaps as early as 1353.
«Similar
to today's Giant Panda, the Cave Bears were therefore extremely inflexible in regard
to their food,» adds Bocherens, and he continues, «We assume that this unbalanced diet, in combination with the reduced supply of plants during the last ice age,
ultimately led to the Cave Bear's
extinction.»