On Tuesday, Colossal announced a scientific breakthrough in which they simultaneously edited seven genes in mice embryos to create mice with long, thick, woolly hair, dubbed the “Colossal woolly mouse.” The results have not yet been published in a journal or reviewed by independent scientists. The feat was praised by biologist Vincent Lynch, who highlighted the technological advancements like CRISPR that have made genetic engineering more efficient.
The Colossal scientists identified genes related to hair texture and fat metabolism in DNA databases of mouse genes and combined them in a single mouse. These genetic variations are already present in some living mice. The traits chosen, such as cold tolerance, were likely important for woolly mammoths to survive in the prehistoric Arctic steppe.
The company’s chief scientist, Beth Shapiro, explained that they focused on mice first to confirm the success of the process before potentially moving on to edit the embryos of Asian elephants, the closest living relatives to woolly mammoths. However, due to the endangered status of Asian elephants, there will be significant hurdles to navigate before any plans can progress.
Colossal, which has raised over $400 million in funding, aims to use genetic engineering to potentially bring extinct species back to life, starting with the woolly mammoth. Their success with the woolly mouse experiment marks a significant step towards realizing this ambitious goal.
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