Woolly Mammoth Project Yields Adorable, but Questionable, Woolly Mice
Colossal Biosciences, aiming to “de-extinct” the woolly mammoth by 2028, has achieved a significant milestone. The company created genetically modified mice exhibiting woolly mammoth-like traits, such as thick, golden hair, by editing genes associated with hair growth and fat metabolism. While this research validates their gene-editing techniques, experts caution that creating a mammoth-like elephant is far more complex, requiring far more than just altering a few genes for cold tolerance and necessitating further research into the animals’ behavior and physiology. Concerns remain regarding resource allocation and the overall feasibility of the mammoth de-extinction project.
John Q. Hosedrinker