A biotechnology company, Colossal Lab and Biosciences, has successfully created laboratory mice with the genetic traits of extinct woolly mammoths. The goal of this achievement is a step towards “de-extinction,” the process of bringing back extinct species. By cross-referencing the DNA of mammoths and their living relatives, the team identified genes controlling traits such as hair growth.
The researchers modified seven mouse genes to display physical characteristics similar to those of woolly mammoths. The resulting animals have rough, curly hair, resembling that found on preserved mammoth mummies. Colossal aims to use this technology to restore extinct species and mitigate climate change.
Rebecca Woods, a project lead at the Mammoth History Lab, explains that de-extinction is driven by concerns about extinction, which she describes as the “sixth extinction.” Humans’ impact on the environment has led to mass extinctions throughout history. The idea of de-extinction raises essential questions about ethics and animal welfare.
Woods emphasizes that resurrecting an Ice Age species like the woolly mammoth would require understanding their complex behaviors and social structures. The team’s work highlights the need for careful consideration of the potential consequences of such a revival, including the impact on ecosystems and human society.
Source: https://cottagelife.com/general/scientists-create-woolly-mice-in-an-effort-to-resurrect-the-mammoth