Scientists in Dallas, Texas, have created mice with long fur and increased cold tolerance in what they say is a step toward bringing back the woolly mammoth.
Researchers at Colossal Biosciences modified seven genes in mice that showed a physical effect, all related to hair growth.
Colossal Biosciences said the mice possess mammoth-like traits that would assist life in a cold climate, including coat color, texture, and thickness reminiscent of a woolly mammoth, a species that has been extinct for thousands of years. The next step, they say, is to modify an elephant.
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Cofounder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences Ben Lamm said the company is aiming for de-extinction, which he claims could stop Arctic permafrost from melting and “revive ecosystems that are suffering the effects of mass extinction.”
“The Colossal Woolly Mouse marks a watershed moment in our de-extinction mission,” Lamm said. “This success brings us a step closer to our goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth.” Credit: Colossal Biosciences via Storyful
