American Scientists Aim to Revive Mammoths by 2028, Start with "Shaggy" Mice
American outfit Colossal Biosciences has conjured up mice with a mammoth twist—“shaggy” rodents sporting traits of their long-lost kin. The grand dream? Bringing mammoths back from the brink by 2028, a quest that’s already swallowed over $435 million. The plan hinges on plucking mammoth genes from permafrost and stitching them into the cells of the Asian elephant—their closest living cousin—to craft an embryo for a surrogate to carry.
These “shaggy” mice boast seven key mammoth genes, gifting them lush golden-brown fur and a metabolism tuned for the cold.
“It’s not just about slapping mammoth genes into a mouse,” says Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal. “It’s a intricate dance of recreating a genetic recipe honed over millions of years.”
The tech doesn’t just flirt with reviving lost species—it’s a window into medical breakthroughs, unraveling complex genetic puzzles.
For now, Colossal’s got 38 tweaked mice scampering about, living their little lives. The project’s stirring up a storm: skeptics argue it’s less resurrection, more hybrid tinkering with shaky ecological perks, while fans cheer the precision of tools like CRISPR, the genome-editing wizardry driving it all. Undeterred, Colossal keeps tinkering with mice, gearing up for the next leap—elephant embryos.
