Will Genetically Engineered Mice Bring the Woolly Mammoth Back to Life?

A recent announcement from Colossal Biosciences in the U.S. has introduced the Colossal Woolly Mouse. At first glance, this may seem like a minor step in genetic science. However, it’s actually a significant stride towards the revival of the woolly mammoth.

The Colossal Woolly Mouse is not just any mouse; it’s genetically engineered to showcase features that help mammals thrive in cold environments. By altering seven genes, the team succeeded in giving these mice a coat that mimics the woolly mammoth’s thick fur—changing their color, texture, and thickness.

Colossal’s research used data from 59 mammoth genomes, some dating back over a million years. This information guided them in pinpointing the essential genes that could help in de-extinction efforts. According to Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, this achievement is a critical moment in their mission to bring back the woolly mammoth.

To create the Colossal Woolly Mouse, researchers examined 121 genomes from both mammoths and elephants, identifying important genes for cold adaptation. They narrowed down their focus to 10 crucial genes linked to traits like hair length, thickness, and lipid metabolism, ensuring compatibility with mouse genetics.

After editing the mouse genome, the company declared that the Colossal Woolly Mouse represents the cutting edge of genome editing technology. Dr. Beth Shapiro, the chief science officer, mentioned that this mouse not only advances their goal of resurrecting extinct traits but also serves as a model to understand how mammals adapt to cold climates.

This breakthrough has far-reaching implications. The Colossal Woolly Mouse is the first living being designed to express multiple cold-adapted traits using mammoth genes. Lamm emphasized that this success validates their entire process—from analyzing genomes to gene editing—leading to healthy animals that exhibit the traits they aimed to engineer.

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