Mice Genetically Modified with Woolly Mammoth Traits by US Biotech Firm

A US biotech company, Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences, has genetically modified mice to exhibit traits of the extinct woolly mammoth, including thick, shaggy hair and efficient fat metabolism. This was achieved by extracting genetic material from woolly mammoth remains preserved in Arctic permafrost and comparing it with the DNA of modern elephants to identify genes responsible for the mammoth's characteristics. Using Crispr, a gene editing tool, the researchers modified mouse embryos by introducing the mammoth versions of genes controlling hair texture and fat metabolism. Colossal's ultimate goal is to introduce these traits into modern elephants, a field known as "de-extinction" [de-ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən]. While ethical challenges exist with experimenting on elephants due to their long gestation periods and complex social behavior, mice offer a more manageable model for testing and refining gene editing methods. The success in mice provides a critical "proof of concept" [pruːf ʌv ˈkɒnsept], demonstrating that complex genetic traits can be replicated in a living model. Colossal envisions de-extinction and genetic enhancement playing a key role in restoring natural ecosystems and potentially reviving other species or enhancing the defenses of endangered species.