Scientists Create ‘Woolly Mice’ in Major Step Toward Woolly Mammoth Revival – Indian Defence Review

Scientists at Colossal Biosciences have genetically engineered woolly mice with mammoth-like fur, marking a major step toward woolly mammoth de-extinction.A biotechnology breakthrough has brought the world one step closer to reviving the woolly mammoth, as scientists have successfully created genetically modified “woolly mice” with thick, mammoth-like fur. The achievement, unveiled by Colossal Biosciences, is part of the company’s ambitious plan to resurrect the woolly mammoth by 2028.The team used advanced genetic engineering techniques to modify specific hair-growth genes in mice, replicating the adaptations that helped woolly mammoths survive the frigid conditions of the last Ice Age. The result? Small rodents with long, wavy, dense fur, mimicking the distinct coat of their prehistoric counterparts.The findings were detailed in a study uploaded to the preprint database BioRxiv on March 4, 2025, marking a significant step in mammoth de-extinction efforts. The research focused on identifying and modifying genes responsible for hair texture, length, and density, a critical adaptation that allowed woolly mammoths to thrive in Arctic environments.The project began less than a year ago, with researchers rapidly designing and cloning genetically modified mice to test whether mammoth-like traits could be reproduced.“We actually just started this work in mice in September [2024],” Ben Lamm, Colossal’s co-founder and CEO told LiveScience. “We didn’t know they were going to be this cute.”Although the woolly mice are only a small step in the larger effort to bring back the woolly mammoth, the research provides critical insights into how similar modifications could eventually be applied to Asian elephants, the mammoth’s closest living relatives.Colossal’s team used three different genetic engineering techniques to modify seven genes in mice, six of which are linked to fur texture, length, and color. Instead of directly inserting mammoth DNA, they identified mouse variants of genes that closely resemble those responsible for the woolly mammoth’s shaggy coat.“We haven’t taken mammoth genes and put them into a mouse,” explained Beth Shapiro, an evolutionary biologist and chief science officer at Colossal. “We’ve looked for the mouse variants of the genes that we think are useful in mammoths and then created mice that have many of these edits simultaneously.”One of the key modifications involved blocking a gene called FGF-5, which regulates hair length. This resulted in mice with fur three times longer than normal lab mice, mimicking the thick, insulating coat of a woolly mammoth.Additionally, the researchers altered two genes found in mammoths—TGF alpha and KRT27—both of which affected hair waviness and thickness. By incorporating these changes, the team successfully produced long-haired, wavy-furred mice, providing direct evidence that multiple genetic mutations can be introduced into a single organism to create mammoth-like traits.“It’s definitely a proof of concept that you can incorporate multiple mutations into a single mouse and make its hair look like mammoth hair,” said Vincent Lynch, an evolutionary biologist and associate professor at the University at Buffalo, who was not involved in the study.The use of mice as a test model is a crucial step before attempting similar genetic modifications in Asian elephants, which Colossal plans to use as the genetic foundation for their woolly mammoth de-extinction project.One major reason for using mice is their rapid reproductive cycle, which allows researchers to quickly test and observe genetic changes.“A mouse model is super useful in this case, because unlike elephants [whose gestation lasts about 22 months], mice have a 20-day gestation,” explained Beth Shapiro.This means scientists can test gene edits and breed generations of modified mice in a matter of months, rather than waiting years to observe genetic changes in larger mammals. The lessons learned from these experiments will be applied to editing elephant cells, a much more complex and time-consuming process.While the woolly mice experiment demonstrates that genetic modifications can successfully produce mammoth-like traits, applying these techniques to Asian elephants presents significant challenges.One key issue is hair density. While mice naturally have thick fur, elephants have much sparser hair, meaning that even if the same genetic modifications are applied, the resulting coat may not be as dense or insulating as a mammoth’s.“Elephants have fur, but the density of the hair is much less than other mammals,” Lynch explained. “So even if they could make those mutations in an Asian elephant, it’s just going to be really sparse.”To fully recreate a woolly mammoth’s coat, researchers may need to introduce additional genetic modifications that increase hair density, a challenge that remains unsolved.Additionally, modifying elephant embryos is far more complex than working with mice. Elephants have long gestation periods, require advanced reproductive technologies, and face ethical concerns surrounding genetic engineering and conservation.The next step for Colossal’s team is to test whether the woolly mice can tolerate cold temperatures better than standard mice. While the genetic edits should theoretically provide better insulation, the company plans to conduct cold exposure experiments to confirm this.“We know that the edits are in there, so now we just need to test what level of cold tolerance it confers,” said Lamm.If the woolly mice prove to have enhanced resistance to cold, it would further validate the feasibility of introducing similar adaptations in elephants, moving the project another step closer to its ultimate goal.Despite the challenges, Colossal remains optimistic about the future of mammoth de-extinction. The company aims to produce the first woolly mammoth hybrid calves by 2028, with plans to reintroduce them into Arctic habitats, where they could help restore grassland ecosystems and combat climate change by preventing permafrost thaw.The woolly mice experiment is just one small step in a much larger process, but it represents a major milestone in the quest to bring prehistoric giants back to life. Whether Colossal can overcome the technical and ethical hurdles ahead remains to be seen, but for now, the project is moving forward—one woolly mouse at a time.Last time I what to leave my comment and my battery offComment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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