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Headline: RAW VIDEO: Scientists Looking To Recreate The Mammoth Create 'Woolly Mice'
Caption: A team of scientists in the United States claims to have engineered a genetically modified mouse with woolly, mammoth-like traits. The so-called "Colossal Woolly Mouse" was developed by Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company based in Dallas, Texas. Using advanced genome-editing technology detailed in a pre-publication paper, the researchers say they have successfully modified seven genes to give the mice characteristics adapted for cold climates, including longer, denser, and curlier hair. Ben Lamm, co-founder and chief executive of Colossal, described the achievement as a "watershed moment" in the company’s ambitious de-extinction programme. Despite critics arguing the efforts may be a waste of resources better spent on conservation, Lamm went on to say that he hopes the technology could be used to prevent extinctions as well as bring ancient beasts back from the dead. “Never before has humanity been able to harness the power of this technology to rebuild ecosystems, heal our Earth and preserve its future through the repopulation of extinct animals,” he added. “In addition to bringing back ancient extinct species like the woolly mammoth, we will be able to leverage our technologies to help preserve critically endangered species that are on the verge of extinction and restore animals where humankind had a hand in their demise.” Colossal Biosciences aims to resurrect the woolly mammoth by genetically modifying the Asian elephant, its closest living relative. The company hopes to produce the first mammoth-like calf by 2028. The research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, involved using a combination of three advanced editing techniques to modify fertilised mouse eggs and embryonic stem cells. These modifications were then implanted into surrogate mice, resulting in the birth of genetically edited offspring with mammoth-like traits. Among the genes targeted were those controlling hair length, thickness, texture, and colour. For example, disruption of the FGF5 gene, which regulates hair growth cycles, led to significantly longer hair in the genetically modified mice. The mice also exhibited changes in the keratin gene KRT27, which is thought to contribute to the woolly mammoth's distinctive coat. The team also altered a gene associated with fat metabolism (FABP2), which is believed to help mammals survive in freezing environments. However, despite these changes, the genetically edited mice displayed no significant differences in body mass compared to their unmodified counterparts. Lamm and actor Joe Manganiello will discuss the Woolly Mouse and the future of de-extinction at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, on 9 March. For now, the Colossal Woolly Mouse stands as a striking proof of concept, offering both promise and controversy in the race to revive extinct species.
Keywords: feature,woolly mammoth,woolly mice,science,genetics,video photo
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