Revival of the Dead: Scientists Explore How Woolly Mammoths Could Walk the Earth Once More

Over 3.5 billion years, it is estimated that roughly 4 billion species have existed on Earth. However, 99% of these species are now vanished. Researchers are aiming to bring back these missing species, or something comparable to them, within the next several years.

By collecting DNA from preserved samples and comparing it to close relatives, scientists can potentially reproduce the genetic code of extinct animals. Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 allow scientists to modify genes with remarkable accuracy. This technique could be the key to bringing back long-gone species.

Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company, is aiming to do this by using gene editing technology to develop a cold-resistant elephant that is identical to the woolly mammoth, a long-extinct behemoth of the last ice age, in both its form and its function.

US biotech company Colossal is now in contact with governments internationally to find suitable environment for species if experiment got successful. When scientists initially proposed the idea of mammoth de-extinction, it was received with raised eyebrows and outright skepticism among scientists.

Now, with the formation of the first “woolly mice”, the unbelievable could become a reality sooner than we think.

On Tuesday, scientists at Colossal, the US biotech corporation, announced they had successfully genetically modified mice with golden wavy fur and cold tolerance, in a test to see if the characteristics could be transfered successfully to mammals.

The company is now so confident that it can bring back the giant mammal (mammoth) in the next few years, that it is already in talks with governments across the world to find a suitable environment for the creatures to roam.

Why Woolly Mammoths?

Woolly mammoths became extinct some 3,700 years ago; but still their close genetic relatives, such as elephants, continue to live today. According to geneticist George Church, elephants and giant mammoth are very closely linked, with Asian elephants and woolly mammoths sharing 99.6% of their genes.

Colossal Bio Science, co-founded by Church and tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm, is utilising gene editing technology to modify the remaining 0.4% of genes in Asian elephants to produce a creature that resembles the woolly mammoth in appearance and function.

The team is focusing on the characteristics that are necessary for the elephants to grow in this environment, such as the ability to digest chemicals at sub-zero temperatures and the possession of a wavy coat and short ears. The goal is to generate a species that can successfully be reinstated into natural environments.

Colossal’s chief science officer, Dr. Beth Shapiro, stated: “The ultimate goal is to have these animals live in the wild somewhere.

“We’ve been talking to several different state governments and national governments about where they might go for the early stages.

“We need to have animals in an environment where we can very carefully watch them, make sure that they’re healthy for some time, before they are actually released into the wild.

“We’re still early in the stages of figuring out exactly where they will go. They lived throughout the central part of North America, even into Mexico.

“They don’t necessarily need to be in the Arctic, although if we make them cold tolerant, then probably they’ll be happiest somewhere colder.”

Elephants, with their 22-month gestation period and the required of almost a decade to attain sexual maturity, represent a difficulty for evaluating genetic changes. Scientists must check the sustainability of such modifications beforehand, as these animals are also endangered species, making direct trials impossible.

Mice, meanwhile, have a short gestation period of about 20 days, allowing researchers to quickly assess the success of their work. Despite being utilised in studies, the mice are cared for with considerable concern to their well-being.

“We didn’t just go ahead and shove mammoth genes into a mouse,” explained Dr. Shapiro. “We know these genes have been studied in the past and are associated with healthy mice that can live and thrive in a normal environment.

“They’re well treated. At Colossal, they have these cute little runs and wooden houses that they can hide in and things like that. Ben really likes them, so they get superstar treatment.”

While mammoths and dodos often capture the headlines, the staff is also working to restoring the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine). They want to resuscitate additional intriguing animals in the future, including a big bear from the Ice Age and a five-foot-tall beaver.

Dr Shapiro added: “If we create elephants that are able to live in habitats outside of their natural zone, by making them better adapted to living in cold places, then this means that we can have more habitats that we might be able to protect, that are available to elephants as well.”

The Dodo’s Revival Mission

Colossal also aims to restore the dodo, a flightless bird from Mauritius, got extinct in the 17th century due to human activity. Its iconic role as a symbol of extinction has made it a contender for rebirth. By researching dodo DNA from preserved remaining and comparing it with pigeons, their closest living relatives, researchers hope to bring the species back.

Birds are difficult to bring back than mammals since they cannot be cloned. Instead, scientists need to come up with a different manner of passing modifications on to the next generation.

The technique they are working on includes using a syringe to take primordial germ cells – which will become sperm or eggs – from a developing Nicobar pigeon embryo so they may modify them with dodo genes in the lab.

The altered germ cells can then be inserted into a surrogate bird which does not create its own germ cells, and so will be then passed on to an embryo.

There is no timeline yet for bringing back the dodo, but the Woolly mammothmay be just a few years away.

The ultimate goal is not only to fix a historical mistake but also to regain the ecological equilibrium on Mauritius. Discussions are ongoing with the Mauritian governance.

Dr Shapiro, an evolutionary molecular scientist, joined Colossal in 2024 from the University of California, where her team was the first to sequence the dodo from a samples in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

“I did my PhD at Oxford, and I would walk by that dodo sample every day when I was going to our ancient DNA lab,” she added.

“Eventually I got permission to take a sample and figured out that a dodo is a type of pigeon and its closest living relative is something called a Nicobar pigeon, which is a really beautiful bird.”

“We’re trying to identify what DNA sequences we need to change if we’re going to take a Nicobar pigeon and turn it into a flightless, big headed, pretty freaking cool dodo.

“But we’re also working with government and nonprofit organisations on Mauritius to develop plans for rewilding, because one of the things that we need to do with a dodo is have a safe place for it to be released into the wild.”

The concept was first put out by Harvard geneticist Professor George Church in 2008, who had become interest in attempts to decode the mammoth genome by Swedish scientists.

The genome was finally entirely organised in 2015 and in the same year Church’s team successfully cloned some woolly mammoth genes into the genome of an Asian elephant.

At the time, Church believed that the animal may be resurrected by the end of the decade, yet progress stagnated until he launched Colossal in 2021 with entrepreneur Ben Lamm, which has generated millions of dollars in investment.

Dr Shapiro added: “When the company was launched, they said they hoped to see the first mammoth in 2028, and I think our team is on track to be able to create cells and embryos by 2027 sometime.

“After that, we have a 22 month gestation period, and that’s just a lot of stuff that could happen that’s completely out of our control. There are a lot of unknowns in there, and part of it is just biology. And biology is hard.”

The woolly mouse accomplishment opens the path for several genetic features to be added to Asian elephant DNA, and restore the mammoth.

“We put all the genetic edits together for the first time which is something that we’re going to have to do if we want to change an elephant genome into a mammoth genome, or a Nicobar pigeon genome into a dodo genome,” said Dr Shapiro.

“We’ve confirmed our hypotheses that these are the genes that we want to target for the mammoth project.”

Tasmanian Tiger Returning

The thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, was declared extinct in 1936. However, reports and unproven stories keep the hope alive. The Tasmanian tiger’s extinction was mostly due to human intervention, making it an ideal target for de-extinction operations. Using genomes from conserved specimens, scientists are examining the prospect of cloning the species and returning it into its original environment to restore ecological balance.

Ecological Consequences

Reintroducing extinct species could have enormous ecological effects, both positive and negative. On the one hand, they might restore ecological roles left vacant promoting biodiversity. On the other side, they may destabilise existing ecosystems and compete with current residents. Understanding these variables is vital before taking on such huge activities.

Ethical Problems Upcoming

Reviving extinct species involves serious ethical problems. Some claim that de-extinction activities take resources from saving currently endangered species. Others concern the wellbeing of creatures brought back to life in a transformed environment where they might not have the habitat to sustain them.

The moral obligation for these creatures and the potential implications of integrating them into today’s ecosystems are themes of passionate debate.

Public interest in de-extinction is both a gift and a challenge. While more attention might encourage financing and political support, it can also lead to sensationalism and unreasonable expectations. Educating the public on the scientific possibilities and limitations is vital for gathering informed support for these programs.

What is Conservation Biology?

Conservation Biology is a broad discipline of study that focuses on understanding and preserving the Earth’s biodiversity. It tries to safeguard species, their habitats, and ecology from extinction while tackling the challenges caused by human activity, climate change, and other factors.

The ultimate goal of conservation biology is to maintain ecological balance and ensure the sustainable existence of humans and nature.

Conservation biology is crucial in guiding de-extinction programs. The discipline focusses understanding the ecological functions these species played and ensuring that their return benefits ecosystems. By carefully examining habitats, scientists attempt to build balanced ecosystems that can sustain both revived and existing species.

Role in De-Extinction Programs:

Conservation biology has a vital role in directing and developing de-extinction activities. Here’s how:

• Ecological Understanding: It lets researchers determine whether bringing back extinct species will contribute favourably to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity.
• Habitat Management: Conservation biology discovers suitable settings and proposes ways for restoring de-extinct animals into the wild.
• Ethical Framework: It provides an ethical viewpoint, ensuring that de-extinction projects emphasise the welfare of revived species and do not impede from efforts to protect currently endangered species.
• Genetic Insights: Conservation biology emphasises the study of genetic variety and its usefulness in creating healthy, possible populations for reintroduced species.
• Sustainability: t guarantees that de-extinction programs align with long-term conservation aims and do not inadvertently affect current ecosystems.

By combining core principles, conservation biology assures that de-extinction activities are environmentally, morally, and scientifically sound.

A Thoughtful Ending

The team at Colossal thinks that their novel processes could disclose lost genetic traits from the past and guarantee that no species surviving today needs to ever go extinct, even though bringing animals back from extinction has a sense of Jurassic Park.

The company has also focused its efforts on preserving rare species, such as the northern white rhino, which faces the threat of extinction, the pink pigeon, a distinctive bird native to Mauritius, and the vaquita, a dolphin regarded as one of the world’s most critically endangered marine creatures.

Progress in de-extinction differs with species. While theoretical frameworks and laboratory success have been established, actual implementation remains a difficulty. Continued technical improvements and interdisciplinary collaboration will be critical to overcoming the barriers of habitat restoration, species acclimation, and ensuring genetic diversity.

While the dream of walking beside a woolly mammoth or hearing the call of a Tasmanian tiger remains just that for now, the breakthroughs being made in genetics and conservation biology suggest it might not be far-fetched forever.

De-extinction pushes the frontiers of what is conceivable in science and encourages us to ponder our responsibility to the past and future of life on Earth. As we stand on the brink of a new age, rigorous consideration of ecological, ethical, and practical concerns will dictate whether and how we bring back the species we once lost.