A US company, Colossal Biosciences, claims to have genetically engineered mice with “mammoth-like traits”, sparking both excitement and criticism. The goal of this project is to engineer mammoth-like creatures that could help stop arctic permafrost from melting, potentially reversing the effects of global warming.
According to the company, the hairy mice are a step towards modifying elephants to withstand cold temperatures. Colossal Biosciences aims to create herds of these modified elephants in the arctic tundra, which would encourage grasslands to flourish and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
However, critics argue that this is a significant scientific challenge, and there are concerns about the ethics of engineering such massive creatures. Scientists also question whether the genetic changes made in mice will be effective and safe for elephants.
The company’s co-founder and CEO, Ben Lam, believes the hairy mouse is a crucial tool in their project to create cold-adapted elephants. He aims to have the first embryos by 2026 and complete the lineage of cold-adapted elephants by 2028.
While Colossal Biosciences’ work has been met with skepticism from scientists, the company claims that their efforts will restore biodiversity and benefit the environment. They argue that the genetic tools developed through this project will also help species at risk of extinction and that the changes made to elephants will not cause suffering.
The company is working on techniques to screen viable embryos and ensuring that the genetically modified elephants will be accepted by other members of their herd. Colossal Biosciences’ plan to reintroduce extinct species, including the mammoth, aims to fill ecological niches lost due to human activities.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jg4n776evo