ARCHEOLOGY

Pioneers De-Extinction with Woolly Mammoth Cloning Birth Calves by 2028

January, 22, 2025-04:35

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Pioneers De-Extinction with Woolly Mammoth Cloning Birth Calves by 2028 

Colossal Biosciences is working on a groundbreaking project to bring back the woolly mammoth, using advanced gene editing techniques. The company is attempting to insert specific mammoth genes into the DNA of Asian elephants, which share 95% of their genetic material with mammoths. This process involves identifying the genetic differences between Asian elephants and woolly mammoths, then using CRISPR technology to engineer the mammoth genes into the elephants' DNA.

One example of this gene editing involves introducing the gene that makes mammoths grow their woolly coats into the DNA of Asian elephants. The gene-editing process allows scientists to "engineer" new genes into the DNA, creating a hybrid DNA blueprint. This hybrid DNA is used to produce pluripotent stem cells, which can potentially be guided to become sperm, eggs, or embryos that carry the mammoth's genetic traits.

The ultimate goal is for female Asian elephants to carry these bioengineered embryos and give birth to woolly mammoth calves. Colossal plans to extend this de-extinction process to other extinct species, including the dodo bird, the Tasmanian tiger, and the Pyrenean ibex. The timeline for the first mammoth calves is set for late 2028, and the company is currently on track to meet that target. The work being done by Colossal Biosciences represents a major step forward in both genetic research and conservation efforts. The company is not just focused on bringing back extinct species like the woolly mammoth; they’re also working toward a larger vision of using genetic engineering for biodiversity restoration and environmental change.

By reviving species like the woolly mammoth, Colossal scientists hope to restore ecological balance in certain habitats. Woolly mammoths once played a crucial role in maintaining the grasslands of the Arctic tundra, and some researchers believe reintroducing them could help prevent the thawing of permafrost—a process that releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The presence of mammoths could help keep the ecosystem stable by encouraging the growth of grasses, which in turn would help sequester carbon in the soil.

Moreover, the approach could open doors for other conservation efforts. For example, the technology developed for resurrecting woolly mammoths could be applied to endangered species, making it possible to enhance genetic diversity or bring back traits lost over time. In this way, the techniques Colossal is pioneering might not just be used to resurrect extinct animals, but to bolster the health of living species as well.