Researchers work on the reappearance of the woolly mammoth. They tried an experience on another species, giving birth to a funny creature.
In recent years, researchers have been trying to resuscitate the woolly mammoth. Biologists of Colossal Biosciences wish to reintroduce the disappeared animal. The objective goes even further: they hope thanks to this species to rebalance ecosystems and fight against global warming. To do this, they offer to create hybrids, elephant-mammoth, rather than bringing this prehistoric animal to live from nothing. They then chose the Asian elephant, whose genome is 99.6% similar to that of woolly mammoth.
To reach this crucial stage, the team of researchers had to do tests. They must experiment with genetic changes before transposing them to elephants. They then opted for an animal which has a rapid reproduction cycle and whose genetics is well known. By conducting this experience, they created a surprising specimen.
These are the mice that were chosen. The researchers modified several genes of these rodents, which were notably associated with the length, texture and color of the hairs. They also tested on a gene which can, according to them, play on adaptation to cold. By introducing characteristics close to those belonging to mammoth, the fur of guinea pigs has tripled in volume, but body mass has not changed.
The researchers then ended up with woolly mice. They took a golden brown coat. However, they have not yet been able to establish whether it could give them resistance to cold, allowing them to survive icy temperatures. “The colossal woolly mouse marks a decisive turning point in our desextinction mission,” said Ben Lamm, CEO of the company.
Some researchers remain skeptical, ensuring that this experience is insufficient to hope to be able to recreate a mammoth. “We are dealing with hairy mice that seem cute, but whose behavior is not known, it does not allow us to know if they will one day be able to give an elephant useful characteristics, similar to those of mammoth,” said Guardian Robin Lovell-Badge, head of stem cell biology and development genetics at the Francis Crick Institute in London, but not having participated in the work. Biologists do not intend to stop there, however, they aim for the reappearance of the first woolly mammoth by the end of 2028.