A team of scientists behind the plan to bring back mammoths has announced the creation of “wooly mice,” which mimic the long fur of the extinct giant animal. The researchers achieved this by editing seven genes simultaneously, a breakthrough that could aid in future efforts to edit the elephant genome and introduce mammoth-like traits.
This is not a hybrid between mice and mammoths but rather an experiment to test gene editing techniques on a more manageable species, the mouse. Mice have been used for genetic experiments for over a century due to their ease of manipulation and reproductive capabilities.
The focus of this project lies in demonstrating the team’s ability to edit multiple genes at once, a crucial skill required to make significant changes to the mammoth genome. However, using elephants is not feasible due to their complex social structures, high cognitive abilities, and lengthy gestation period, which makes rapid experimental assessment impractical.
The researchers have chosen to work with mice instead, leveraging their ability to easily spot genetic mutations that affect fur color, texture, and length. This approach will aid in future studies aimed at developing a mammoth genome editing strategy, paving the way for potentially bringing back the extinct species in the future.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/03/wooly-mice-a-test-run-for-mammoth-gene-editing