Woolly Mammoth Mice

De-extinction Genetic Engineering

Colossal Laboratories and Bioscience have done a rather interesting “proof of concept.” Using Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) gene sequences for hair color, hair length, and fat deposition, they made woolly mice.

These mice don’t have mammoth genes in their genomes. Only specific mutations in their equivalent mouse genes that give the same traits that the scientists believe mammoths carried. What they also got was a heaping side of adorable, although they say they have no plans to market or sell these mice as pets.

Will this get them any closer to de-extincting a mammoth? I hope so, but probably not. There are a bunch of genes they need to modify and study, including genes that create hemoglobin that bind and release oxygen better at frigid temperatures.

As for the possible birth date of the hybrid woolly mammoth, it’s now been pushed to 2028.