The dream Of bring back to life the mammoth Yes rekindle with the birth in the laboratory first woolly mice, genetically modified To get a thick golden fur similar to that of ancient giants at this point extinct. The result was announced fromUS COLOSSAL BIOSCIENCES COMPANYwhich used i rodents as test For experience a Combination of techniques Of genetic editing useful for de-extinction Of animal species at this point lost. The study it was not yet subjected to peer overhaul for the publication on one scientific magazinebut a brief it should be shared on the Biorxiv platform.
THE researchersguided by geneticist Rui Chenthey have analyzed 59 genomes Of mammoth lived between 3,500 and 1,200,000 years agoincluding woolly mammoth, mammoth of the steppes And Colombian mammoths. Also, they have studied The genome of the Asian elephantsfor a total of 121 genomes. The analyses they have permit Of identify the gene That distinguished the mammoth fromAsian elephant and, in particular, i Seven associated genes at the fur and to the peculiar distribution of body fat with Anti-Freddo function.
After identified the corresponding genes In the DNA of the micei researchers they have used Three different techniques Of genetic editing For introduce eight changes in mouse embryosobtaining as result specimens of woolly mouse (called Colossal Woolly Mouse) with one thick golden fur formed by long wavy hair. On the other hand, it is not yet clear which outcomes have been obtained regarding the Body fat deposits.
“The Colossal Woolly Mouse score a watershed moment in ours De-extinction mission“, He said Well lamm, co-founder And CEO Of Colossal Biosciences. “We have shown our capacity Of recreate complex genetic combinations that the nature ha I took millions of years For create. This success makes us do a step forward towards ours objective Of bring the woolly mammoth back to life».
THE’announcement he though aroused perplexity in the International Scientific Communitywith some expert That underline like the finish line from the de-extinction be still very far due to numerous technical difficulties That they remain to be overcome.