De-extinction company Colossal Biosciences genetically engineered a shaggy, light brown mouse with fat deposits as part of its effort to revive the extinct woolly mammoth. The experiment, published in a paper not yet peer-reviewed, shows the company’s ability to edit multiple genes in an attempt to achieve a single expressed trait—in this case, cold tolerance. Further tests will demonstrate whether the changes are effective in colder climates.
Scientists focused on mouse genes related to hair expression with links to the mammoth’s genome. Each mouse received different combinations of edits, but some saw up to eight genes edited using three distinct techniques. In most cases, the gene was edited to shut off its typical expression, as with the hair-regulating gene FGF-5 (fibroblast growth factor 5), which allowed the fur to grow long. See video of the mice here.
Colossal, currently valued at $10B, was founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church to develop a method to recreate extinct species, including the mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger.
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