How 'woolly mice' may help bring mammoths back to life
What's the story
Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotechnology firm, has taken a giant leap in its mission to bring the wooly mammoth back to life.
The company's latest achievement involves the creation of genetically modified mice, or "wooly mice," that display key traits of the long-extinct species.
The breakthrough takes them a step closer to their ultimate goal of mammoth de-extinction.
Genetic engineering
Wooly mice: A step toward de-extinction
The wooly mice were created by implanting genetically modified embryos into female lab mice.
The first of these "wooly pups" was born in October last year.
Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences, expressed her excitement about this achievement, stating that it validates their long-term de-extinction project and suggests its potential for success.
Research process
Genetic modifications mirror mammoth traits
The Colossal Biosciences team started by identifying genes that define mammoths, comparing ancient genetic material from these extinct creatures with their closest relatives, the African and Asian elephants.
Shapiro explained that they searched for similar genes in mice and cases where these genes affected wooly coat traits like longer hair or color changes.
Successful experiment
Woolly mice exhibit mammoth-like features
The genetic modifications resulted in the birth of mice with longer, wooly, golden-colored coats and fat similar to that of the mammoth.
Shapiro said that this confirms their identified genes cause an animal to have a wooly/golden coat and longer hairs.
She also emphasized that this is the method they will use to create future mammoths.
Project continuation
Future plans for de-extinction
The team intends to edit genes in Asian elephant embryos and implant these modified embryos into female elephants.
The aim is for them to give birth to calves with key traits that defined mammoths.
Despite skepticism from some researchers, Shapiro and her colleagues remain committed to their project, believing it could benefit ecosystems where mammoth-like creatures once lived.