DALLAS: A U.S. biotech firm aiming to resurrect extinct animals has taken a significant step forward by unveiling genetically engineered woolly mice in an experiment—rodents with thick, shaggy coats reminiscent of the legendary woolly mammoth.
Colossal Biosciences, the company behind this groundbreaking experiment, is working on editing the genes of Asian elephants—mammoths’ closest living relatives—to recreate a species with key mammoth traits. By comparing mammoth and elephant genomes, scientists aim to introduce genetic traits such as dense fur, long tusks, and thick layers of fat to help them thrive in cold climates.
The woolly mice serve as a test case, proving that scientists can successfully introduce mammoth-like hair growth through gene editing. “This marks a watershed moment in our de-extinction mission,” said Colossal co-founder Ben Lamm. “This success brings us a step closer to our goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth.”
However, experts outside the project caution that reviving a true woolly mammoth is still far from reality. “A mammoth is much more than just an elephant in a fur coat,” said Dr. Tori Herridge, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Sheffield. She argues that without replicating all genetic and biological factors, “you are only ever going to create a crude approximation of any extinct creature.”
Despite the skepticism, Colossal Biosciences’ achievement represents a major leap in the field of de-extinction. If successful, their efforts could lead to a new era where lost species are reborn, potentially helping restore ecosystems once shaped by these prehistoric giants.
-Agencies
