Scientists Just Created a ‘Woolly Mouse’ With Mammoth-Like Fur
1 min read
Summary
Biotech firm Colossal Biosciences has used CRISPR gene editing to create mice with physical traits resembling those of mammoths, including long, shaggy fur and a different metabolism of fat.
The company’s aim is to use the same techniques to modify Asian elephants to create animals with a similar appearance and genetic makeup to woolly mammoths, in an attempt to de-extinct the mammoth.
To create the Colossal Woolly Mouse, the company made multiple gene edits to influence the length and texture of the rodents’ fur, as well as how they store fat.
While some scientists question the usefulness of the project because of the feasibility of attempting to resurrect an animal that has been extinct for 4,000 years, the company believes the creatures could help restore their forest habitats.
