Scientists Working to Revive the Woolly Mammoth Start with a "Woolly Mouse"

Colossal Biosciences, a biotech firm that made headlines in 2021 for its ambitious goal to bring back the woolly mammoth—and later, the dodo—has taken a new step: creating a genetically modified mouse with thick, woolly fur.

Based in Texas, the company is working to identify and recreate the essential genetic traits of extinct animals, according to CEO Ben Lamm. Their broader mission includes using this technology for conservation purposes, not just de-extinction.

Reactions from the scientific community have been mixed. Some researchers question the practicality and ethics of the work.

This week, Colossal revealed that it had altered seven genes in mouse embryos, resulting in mice with dense, woolly coats. Dubbed the "colossal woolly mouse," this development is a stepping stone toward modifying Asian elephants to display traits of the long-extinct woolly mammoth.

Critics argue that altering living animals isn’t the same as truly reviving extinct ones. Christopher Preston, a University of Montana expert in wildlife and environmental ethics, noted that changing an elephant’s appearance doesn’t amount to resurrecting a mammoth.

The company’s findings have not yet undergone peer review or been published in a scientific journal.
Still, some researchers see potential. Vincent Lynch, a biologist at the University of Buffalo, called the genetic work "technologically pretty cool." According to Colossal, the modified mouse also exhibits a faster fat metabolism—another trait associated with cold-weather adaptation in mammoths.

Beth Shapiro, the company’s lead scientist, explained that the altered genes already exist in some living mice; the innovation was in combining them all into one animal. Starting with mice allowed researchers to test the technique before moving on to more complex species like elephants, which are mammoths’ closest living relatives.
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However, because Asian elephants are endangered, CEO Ben Lamm acknowledged that regulatory hurdles will be significant before any elephant-related experiments can proceed.