Reviving the woolly mammoth isn’t just unethical. It’s impossible | Adam Rutherford
At a time when US scientists are under attack from their own government, the illiteracy around these elephantine fantasies is dangerous
You will never ever see a living woolly mammoth. While this is an obvious truth to most geneticists, zoologists and mammoth experts, the endless promises that you might get to meet an extant version of this very-much extinct elephantid apparently necessitate me typing it.
The latest on the conveyor belt of mammoth resurrection stories came this week in the form of a slightly hairy mouse. Colossal Biosciences, the US company behind the “woolly mouse” and ensuing media frenzy, published a non-peer-reviewed paper in which it has genetically engineered a mouse to express a gene that relates to mammoth hair, resulting in a mouse with slightly longer hair than normal.
Dr Adam Rutherford is a lecturer in genetics at UCL and the author of How to Argue With a Racist
This article was amended on 6 March 2025. Colossal is proposing to modify the genes of an Asian elephant. An earlier version said the species was an African elephant
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
-
Scientists Just Created a ‘Woolly Mouse’ With Mammoth-Like Fur
The de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences wants to bring back the woolly mammoth—starting with a very furry mouse.Wired - 2d -
Scientists aiming to bring back woolly mammoth create woolly mice
Genetically modified mice have traits geared towards cold tolerance, in step towards modifying elephants. A plan to revive the mammoth is on track, scientists have said after creating a new ...The Guardian - 2d -
Scientists create "woolly mouse" in step toward recreating woolly mammoth
Scientists at a Dallas-based biotech company has unveiled a genetically engineered woolly mouse that they hope is a step toward eventually bringing back the wooly mammoth. The results haven't yet ...CBS News - 2h -
Woolly mice designed to engineer mammoth-like elephants
Experiments on mice could see hairy, genetically modified elephants living in the Arctic, a US company claims.BBC News - 2d -
Mice genetically engineered to resemble extinct woolly mammoth
Colossal Biosciences has focused on identifying key traits of extinct animals by studying ancient DNA, with a goal to genetically "engineer them into living animals," said CEO Ben Lamm.CBS News - 2d -
Scientists genetically engineer mice with thick hair like the extinct woolly mammoth
Extinction is still foreverABC News - 2d -
Scientists genetically engineer mice with thick hair like the extinct woolly mammoth
Scientists at the biotech company Colossal Biosciences say they have genetically engineering mice with qualities to resemble extinct species like the woolly mammoth.NBC News - 1d -
Colossal BioSciences genetically engineers mouse with warm coat taken from woolly mammoth’s genes
Colossal Biosciences announced it has genetically engineered the Colossal Woolly Mouse, which has a warm coat like the woolly mammoth.VentureBeat - 2d -
This N.F.L. Off-Season, the Buzz Isn’t Just About the Quarterbacks
Now that Matthew Stafford’s future is decided, the Myles Garrett market requires more attention, a columnist for The Athletic writes.The New York Times - 5d
More from The Guardian
-
Zelenskyy hoping for ‘meaningful meeting’ with US next week as he welcomes Europe’s plan to rearm – live
Ukraine’s president also appeared to back Emmanuel Macron’s proposed limited truce in air and sea as a first step towards a peace deal with Russia. Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre has ...The Guardian - 22m -
Trump says he is suspending tariffs on many Mexican goods for one month – US politics live
US president says after speaking to Claudia Scheinbaum anything that falls under the US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement will be exempt from 25% levy. The White House announced that Donald Trump will sign ...The Guardian - 12m -
Hamas says Trump’s threats encourage Israel to back out of Gaza ceasefire
Militant group accuses the US president of seeking to undermine deal with his ultimatum for release of hostages. Hamas has accused Donald Trump of seeking to undermine the shaky pause in ...The Guardian - 6h -
Dominique Pelicot’s daughter presses charges accusing him of sexual abuse
Caroline Darian, 46, believes she was drugged and sexually assaulted or raped by her father between 2010 and 2020. The daughter of the convicted French rapist Dominique Pelicot has filed a legal ...The Guardian - 28m -
Danish postal service to stop delivering letters after 90% drop in numbers
PostNord says it will stop service at end of year and cut a third of staff to focus on parcels business. The Danish postal service has said it will deliver its last letter at the end of this year, ...The Guardian - 3h
More in World
-
Trump says he is suspending tariffs on many Mexican goods for one month – US politics live
US president says after speaking to Claudia Scheinbaum anything that falls under the US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement will be exempt from 25% levy. The White House announced that Donald Trump will sign ...The Guardian - 12m -
AZ v Tottenham, Fenerbahce v Rangers: Europa League last 16, first legs – live
Clockwatch updates from all the 5.45pm GMT kick-offs Live scores | Read today’s Football Daily | And mail Yara Who would Mourinho better suit? Celtic or Rangers? Could he cross the Old ...The Guardian - 13m -
Over a Dozen Conservative Party Donors Fund Nigel Farage’s Reform U.K.
A New York Times analysis of campaign finance data also revealed an influx of funding to Nigel Farage’s right-wing party from fossil fuel investors, climate skeptics and multimillionaires.The New York Times - 20m -
Zelenskyy hoping for ‘meaningful meeting’ with US next week as he welcomes Europe’s plan to rearm – live
Ukraine’s president also appeared to back Emmanuel Macron’s proposed limited truce in air and sea as a first step towards a peace deal with Russia. Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre has ...The Guardian - 22m -
Real Sociedad v Manchester United: Europa League last 16, first leg – live
Europa League updates from 5.45pm GMT kick-off Live scores | Read today’s Football Daily | And mail Scott That aforementioned 4-0 win for United in 2021, then. You wouldn’t think ...The Guardian - 24m