Scientists Create “Woolly Mice” in Mammoth Revival Effort
Researchers at Colossal Biosciences have made a small step towards bringing back woolly mammoths. They created genetically modified mice with special traits that might help them understand mammoth characteristics.
What Did They Do?
The team edited mouse genes to:
– Change hair color and texture
– Modify how the mice handle cold
– Create hair similar to mammoth coats
Key Details:
– They changed nine different genes
– Some mice grew woolly, golden-brown hair
– The goal is to learn how to modify elephant genes later
How Close Are They to Recreating Mammoths?
Not very close. Experts say:
- Bringing back mammoths is very complicated
- Many more steps are needed
- It’s unclear if this helps their main goal
Scientific Opinions:
Some scientists are skeptical:
- The research doesn’t fully explain how genes work
- It might not be the best use of research money
- Creating a real mammoth is much harder than creating hairy mice
The team hopes to do more tests to understand cold tolerance in these modified mice. They aim to create a mammoth-like elephant by 2028, but many experts think this is unlikely.
Key Takeaway: It’s an interesting experiment, but mammoths aren’t coming back soon.
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