A tiny, genetically engineered mouse covered in thick, wavy fur just became a major milestone in the quest to resurrect the woolly mammoth.
This genetically modified rodent is the first living creature designed to express multiple mammoth-like traits—a significant, if small, proof-of-concept for de-extinction science.
Developed by Colossal Biosciences, the Dallas-based biotech firm leading the charge to bring back the woolly mammoth, this experiment offers a crucial validation of gene-editing techniques that could one day produce a cold-adapted elephant-mammoth hybrid.
But while the woolly mouse marks one furry step forward, it also raises lingering questions about the feasibility, ethics and ultimate impact of bringing extinct species back to life.
Engineering The Woolly Mouse—A Mammoth Gene Experiment
Bringing back the mammoth is no simple task. With Asian elephants—its closest living relatives—facing a 22-month pregnancy and a decade-long wait for maturity, researchers needed a faster way to test their genetic edits.
Enter the woolly mouse: a rapidly reproducing, genetically malleable model organism that could confirm whether these genetic edits function as expected before applying them to larger animals.
To create these modified mice (paper is yet to be certified by peer review), scientists at Colossal used CRISPR gene-editing technology to tweak six genes related to hair texture, length and color—giving the mice a dense, wavy coat similar to mammoths.
They also altered one gene linked to fat metabolism, which in theory could help animals retain body heat in cold environments, just as mammoths did in the Ice Age.
According to Colossal’s chief science officer, Beth Shapiro, these genetic edits were selected based on comparative studies of ancient mammoth DNA recovered from preserved remains.
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“We can’t just put a mammoth gene into a mouse,” says Shapiro. “There’s 200 million years of evolutionary divergence between them.”
So, by modifying mouse genes to mimic these changes, the researchers have successfully engineered a living model of mammoth-like traits—a first-of-its-kind experiment in de-extinction science.
What This Means For The Woolly Mammoth’s Return
The woolly mouse is not a mammoth, but it’s proof that mammoth traits can be engineered into a living animal. This breakthrough builds on Colossal’s previous success in creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants, an essential step toward growing elephant embryos with mammoth characteristics.
The goal for Colossal Biosciences is to repopulate parts of the Arctic tundra with cold-resistant, mammoth-like elephants. With this, they could potentially help restore grassland ecosystems and reduce permafrost thaw, which contributes to climate change.
However, even if scientists succeed in creating a woolly mammoth hybrid, there are major obstacles to reintroducing them into the wild.
The Arctic today is vastly different from the Ice Age, raising concerns about whether modern ecosystems can support mammoths. Another challenge lies in behavioral uncertainty—will a mammoth born to an elephant behave like a mammoth, or will its instincts be lost?
Additionally, with elephant pregnancies lasting nearly two years, scaling up the process remains a slow and complex hurdle. While the woolly mouse experiment confirms that mammoth genes can function in living animals, the path to a fully realized de-extinction remains long and uncertain.
The Challenges Of Woolly Mammoth De-Extinction
Despite the excitement around de-extinction, many scientists remain skeptical. Critics argue that creating modified elephants with mammoth traits is not the same as bringing back the woolly mammoth and that the resources spent on de-extinction could be better directed toward conservation efforts for endangered species.
Gene-editing complexity remains a major hurdle. The woolly mouse experiment targeted a handful of genes, but creating a full mammoth-like elephant requires modifying dozens—possibly hundreds—of genes, many of which interact in ways not yet fully understood.
Behavioral and ecological unknowns also loom large; modifying an elephant’s genes doesn’t guarantee mammoth-like instincts or behavior.
Ethical concerns further complicate the issue, as some bioethicists question whether de-extincting species is responsible or necessary, especially when the world is losing hundreds of species to human activity every year.
While Colossal’s work on bringing back animals like the mammoth or the thylacine undeniably pushes the boundaries of genetic engineering, the woolly mouse is a reminder that de-extinction is still in its experimental phase—and that the biggest hurdles remain ahead.
Does the idea of bringing these long-extinct animals back to life fill you with curiosity and awe? Take this test and find out if you care for animals the same way you care for people:Animal Attitude Scale.