De-extinction scientists say these gene-edited ‘woolly mice’ are a step toward woolly mammoths
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Summary
Scientists have created mice with features similar to those of woolly mammoths, which they hope may eventually help to bring back the extinct creatures.
The team at Colossal Biosciences edited the genomes of the mice before implanting the embryos into surrogate mothers.
The 34 pups born are healthy, and each has a varying number of the intended gene edits, according to the company.
The next step will be to refine the technique in mice before moving on to Asian elephants, which are genetically close to woolly mammoths.
The goal is not to bring back woolly mammoths wholesale but to create “functional de-extinction,” or mammoth-like elephants that might fulfil a similar role to their extinct predecessors.
However, some experts are skeptical about what benefits, if any, such animals might bring.