On March 4th, the company, Colossal Biosciences, announced the successful construction of a genetically engineered breed of mouse known as the “Woolly Mouse.” The creation of these mice now greenlights the ability to use genetic engineering to potentially “resurrect” the Woolly Mammoth.
The Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus Primigenius), was a large, hairy, elephant-like animal, closely related to the asian elephants of today. They were significantly larger than modern elephants and roamed the north around the arctic.
They were driven to extinction on the mainland by 12,000 years ago and managed to stay alive on the desolate Wrangel Island up until around 4,000 years ago.
Their work to bring back these large mammals has been active since 2021. So far, their creation of these mice have now made the plan to bring back these amazing animals doable. Though, the direct return of these magnificent beasts is not what you may be thinking.
In order to birth a “Woolly Mammoth,” in our day and age, the need for a natural birth is vital. An Asian elephant will give birth to an Asian elephant, obviously. However, the problem is that we can’t have a true Woolly Mammoth if an Asian elephant is the mother.
Instead, these “Mammoths” are genetically engineered Asian elephants that possess all the genes that a Woolly Mammoth has that an Asian elephant doesn’t. Fortunately, these Mammoth “filler” genes will allow this animal to fit comfortably into the arctic environment.
