Scientists at Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based company focused on “de-extinction,” have made a breakthrough. They’ve successfully created mice with some of the same traits as the ancient woolly mammoth — and they’re thrilled about it.
“This is our first real proof that we can actually create living animals with woolly mammoth characteristics,” said Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s Chief Science Officer. “It’s the first time we’ve succeeded, and that’s incredibly exciting.”
These woolly mice don’t just have curly, mammoth-like fur in the same reddish-brown color seen on frozen mammoth remains — they also carry a gene that changes how their bodies process fat, which could help them stay warm in cold climates.
Why mice and not elephants, the mammoth’s closest living relatives? It’s all about speed. Elephants have a 22-month pregnancy and take years to mature, so waiting a decade just to see if an experiment works would slow everything down. Mice, on the other hand, only need about 20 days to give birth — making them the perfect test subjects.
Colossal’s end goal is to eventually create a woolly mammoth-like hybrid species. Along the way, their research could also help save modern elephants from deadly diseases like EEHV, a virus that’s especially dangerous to young Asian elephants.
But the woolly mammoth isn’t the only species Colossal is trying to bring back. The company is also working on reviving the Dodo and the Thylacine — better known as the Tasmanian tiger. These projects go beyond creating Jurassic Park-style curiosities. The scientists hope to use their work to help current species adapt to modern challenges like climate change and disease.
Anna Keyte, leading the Dodo project, points out that bird flu is wiping out some endangered bird populations — and their work could help build resilience in these species. Meanwhile, Sara Ord, who’s heading up the Thylacine effort, sees their project as a chance to right a wrong. The Thylacine was hunted to extinction in just about 100 years, with the last known animal dying in 1936 — just two months after Australia passed a law protecting the species.
“It’s an example of a human-caused extinction,” said Ord. “So how responsible are we to bring back a species we drove away?”
One remarkable thing about Colossal’s team: the three de-extinction projects are all led by women, something rare in the male-dominated STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. Shapiro has been watching the number of women in science grow, and she believes diversity of perspectives is key to solving some of biology’s toughest challenges.
As for the woolly mice, their work isn’t over yet. Over the next six months, scientists will observe them to see if they thrive in colder environments, just like their mammoth ancestors once did.
And when the study wraps up? Don’t worry — these fuzzy pioneers already have fans eager to adopt them. “Our CEO joked that I’d probably take them all home,” Ord said with a laugh. “We’re not just passionate about the science — we love the animals, too.”
