Closer to a Live Mammoth by 2028

Colossal Biosciences has announced a world-first achievement: their goal is to create a woolly mammoth by 2028. Their approach involves reprogramming elephant cells into stem cell-like cells capable of differentiating into all necessary cell types. This breakthrough centers on identifying genes linked to key mammoth traits such as cold tolerance and curved tusks.

The plan is to transfer these traits to current animals by engineering their genes. Since the Asian elephant is 99.6% genetically similar to the woolly mammoth, it serves as the primary model for this research.

Eriona Hysolli, Head of Biological Sciences at Colossal Biosciences, explained that generating induced pluripotent stem cells from elephants was a major goal. These cells could help study Arctic adaptation and aid conservation efforts through advanced reproductive technologies.

The environmental impact of reintroducing woolly mammoths could be significant. Elephants’ role in tree management could help restore ecosystems degraded by human activity. As trees trap more heat and snow, they contribute to warming and carbon release, which could be mitigated by reintroducing megafauna to maintain grasslands.

Woolly mammoths, by knocking down trees, could help maintain these ecosystems. Their presence could have a substantial environmental benefit, comparable to the estimated $70,000 annual value of elephants’ carbon sequestration.

This breakthrough, detailed in a preprint on bioRxiv, marks a significant step, though there’s still progress to be made. Colossal Biosciences is exploring various methods to accelerate and refine the process, aiming to make significant strides in both de-extinction and conservation.

Read the Original Article : IFL SCIENCE

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