Colossal Biosciences has announced a major breakthrough in genetic engineering with the creation of the Colossal Woolly Mouse, a significant step toward the revival of the extinct woolly mammoth, indicating success in the startup’s avowed journey in the field of de-extinction.
The biotech firm successfully modified seven genes in mice to express mammoth-like cold adaptations — altering their coat color, texture, and thickness to resemble that of a woolly mammoth. According to Colossal Biosciences, this work validates the possibility of recreating ancient traits using computational analysis of 59 woolly, Columbian, and steppe mammoth genomes, some dating back over 1.2 million years.
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Colossal’s research team identified 10 critical genes related to hair length, thickness, texture, and color, as well as lipid metabolism—essential characteristics that differentiated mammoths from their close relatives, the Asian elephants. The team then edited the mouse genome, successfully modifying seven of these genes, creating the first living animal engineered to express multiple cold-adapted traits inspired by mammoth DNA.
“The Colossal Woolly Mouse marks a watershed moment in our de-extinction mission,” said Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences. “By engineering multiple cold-tolerant traits from mammoth evolutionary pathways into a living model species, we’ve proven our ability to recreate complex genetic combinations that took nature millions of years to develop. This success brings us a step closer to our goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth.”
Colossal’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Beth Shapiro, said the success showcases the company’s ability to use advanced genome-editing tools to create predictable phenotypes. “It is an important step toward validating our approach to resurrecting traits that have been lost to extinction,” she added.
Colossal Biosciences is at the forefront of the de-extinction movement, aiming not only to revive woolly mammoths but also to bring back species like the Tasmanian tiger, the northern white rhinoceros, and the dodo. The company’s most ambitious goal is to produce woolly mammoth hybrid calves by 2028 and reintroduce them to the Arctic tundra, where they could play a role in restoring the permafrost ecosystem.
The Tasmanian tiger project, another of Colossal’s high-profile endeavors, involves reviving the extinct carnivorous marsupial that was wiped out in the 1930s due to overhunting by European settlers. Scientists are using genome sequencing and CRISPR gene-editing technology to reconstruct thylacine DNA, with hopes of gestating a live specimen within the next decade.
Does de-extinction disrupt ecosystems?
Bringing extinct species back to life was once a concept limited to science fiction. Now that the biotech company Colossal Biosciences is making it a reality, the idea of de-extinction is sparking debate among scientists and conservationists.
Many experts worry about the ethical and ecological risks. They argue that species that went extinct lived in a different environment, and reintroducing them could have unintended consequences. Critics also question whether efforts should focus on saving endangered species rather than reviving extinct ones.
Colossal, on the other hand, believes de-extinction can help restore ecosystems. The company argues that the loss of apex predators has led to environmental problems, such as disease outbreaks, increased wildfires, and the spread of invasive species.
Harvard geneticist George Church, who developed the “Multiplex Automated Genomic Engineering” machine that can write many genes at once, also supports de-extinction, particularly for the woolly mammoth. He suggests that reintroducing mammoths could help fight climate change by preventing permafrost from melting. According to his research, mammoths could help maintain Arctic grasslands by knocking down trees, and reducing carbon emissions in the process.
Even after extinct species are revived, it could take decades to reintroduce them into the wild. A baby female woolly mammoth, for instance, would take about 20 years to mature and reproduce, leaving aside concerns about how these animals will adapt. Some fear they could become invasive, disrupting modern ecosystems, while others worry they might struggle to survive in a world that has changed drastically since their extinction. Without suitable habitats, their future could be limited to captivity in zoos, which may be a pathetic solution.
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However, conservationists point out that species reintroductions have been successfully carried out in recent years. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after 70 years, a milestone in conservation. In Europe, beavers are being reintroduced, and wolves are returning on their own due to widespread reforestation. And, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Reintroduction Specialist Group regularly publishes reports documenting that nature is neither broken nor excessively fragile—except in particularly vulnerable environments like ocean islands and freshwater ecosystems.
Beyond this, conservation professionals have two other concerns -— de-extinction could divert crucial funding and attention away from protecting endangered species. In its editorial, Scientific American criticized the idea, arguing: “Should we resurrect the mammoth only to let elephants go extinct? Of course not.”
On the contrary, some argue that de-extinction could actually attract new funding and interest in conservation. Citing an example, they say the $35 million spent on the captive breeding and reintroduction of California condors, did not drain resources from other conservation projects. Instead, it brought additional support to wildlife efforts. Similarly, reviving extinct species could generate new funding sources without taking away from existing conservation priorities, they insist.
As the debate continues, Colossal’s recent success with the Woolly Mouse suggests that its genetic engineering approach to revive mammoths is working. Whether these efforts will restore ecosystems or create new challenges remains to be seen.