A team of scientists at Colossal Biosciences, a private lab in Dallas, Texas, has successfully created a genetically modified “Woolly Mouse”, bringing the world one step closer to resurrecting the Woolly Mammoth. While this isn’t quite the return of the Ice Age giant, it’s a significant step in genetic engineering.
But is this breakthrough truly a sign that de-extinction is possible, or is it just a fascinating experiment with no real-world application? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Woolly Mouse?
The Woolly Mouse is a genetically modified lab rat that exhibits several mammoth-like traits. According to CNN, these traits include:
- Curly whiskers
- Wavy, light-colored fur
- Hair that grows three times longer than a normal lab mouse
This experiment proves that mammoth-like genetic traits can be successfully introduced into another species—a crucial step toward reviving extinct animals.
How Did Scientists Create the Woolly Mouse?
Researchers at Colossal Biosciences compared the genes of Woolly Mammoths and their closest living relative, the Asian elephant. They identified 10 key genetic variants responsible for mammoth traits such as:
- Hair length and thickness
- Hair color
- Body fat composition (important for cold tolerance)
Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, the team made eight genetic modifications in a lab mouse. The result? A mouse with mammoth-like fur and whiskers.
Why Is This Important?
Genetically modifying a mouse might seem like a small step, but scientists believe this is a major breakthrough in gene-editing technology.
Love Dalén, an evolutionary genomics professor and advisor to Colossal Biosciences, says this experiment proves that multiple genes can be edited at once—a crucial step toward reviving extinct species.
“It is a proof-of-principle that Colossal has the know-how to do this kind of gene editing, including to insert mammoth gene variants into a different species.” – Love Dalén, Stockholm University
Criticism & Skepticism: Does the Woolly Mouse Actually Prove Anything?
Not everyone is convinced that this experiment is a meaningful step toward bringing back the Woolly Mammoth.
Robin Lovell-Badge, head of the Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics Laboratory, argues that the Woolly Mouse is just a “cute, hairy mouse” with no proof that it actually functions like a mammoth.
He points out that we don’t know if the Woolly Mouse is cold-tolerant, which is a key trait for a Woolly Mammoth.
“As it is, we have some cute-looking hairy mice, with no understanding of their physiology, behavior, etc. It doesn’t get them any closer to know if they would eventually be able to give an elephant useful mammoth-like traits.” – Robin Lovell-Badge
Will Scientists Really Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth?
Colossal Biosciences believes that the first Woolly Mammoth calves could be born by 2028. The company has raised $435 million since 2021 to fund de-extinction projects, including:
- The Woolly Mammoth
- The Dodo
- The Tasmanian Tiger
Scientists plan to use gene editing to insert mammoth DNA into Asian elephant embryos, potentially creating a hybrid species that could survive in Arctic conditions.
However, many ethical and scientific challenges remain, including:
- Where would they live? – The tundra ecosystem has changed dramatically.
- Would they behave like mammoths? – There’s no way to recreate extinct animal behavior.
- Would they survive? – Mammoths relied on specific environmental conditions that no longer exist.