The Importance of Woolly Mice

A few weeks ago, Colossal Biosciences made a significant breakthrough in the revival of the woolly mammoth by creating a mouse with a coat similar to that of the mammoth. The goal of this revival is to mitigate climate change. Mammoths helped reduce climate change by leveling trees and creating grasslands that reflect more sunlight than dense forests. Their footsteps also compacted snow, insulating permafrost and preventing the release of carbon dioxide trapped in the ice. Efforts to revive the mammoth began in 1996 with the cloning of Dolly the sheep. Gene editing allows a host to have parts of its DNA replaced with that of another animal, resulting in new traits. Although no perfectly preserved DNA has survived due to aging in the permafrost, some DNA fragments have been preserved well enough to be identified and studied. This is why the woolly mice have similarities to mammoths without directly containing mammoth DNA; the mice’s coat development genes were edited, not exchanged. Specifically, the FGF5 and MC1R genes were identified as having direct counterparts in mammoth DNA. The hair growth cycle relies on FGF5, while MC1R influences melanin production, both crucial for surviving cold environments.

While these discoveries excite scientists and mouse enthusiasts alike, there are criticisms of the efforts to revive mammoths. Robin Lovell-Badge, head of developmental genetics and stem cell biology at the Francis Crick Institute, and Dr. Tori Herridge, a paleontologist from the University of Sheffield, argue against the development. They contend that fur coats are not the only factor in the woolly mammoth's adaptation. Creating a woolly mammoth-type elephant would be much more challenging due to a larger genome, unknown gene mechanics, and the small sample size of test subjects, as elephant pregnancies take over a year. While batches of mice can be produced in three weeks, a single elephant takes 20-22 months. Additionally, there is the complexity of keeping the animal alive, ensuring successful breeding, establishing a colony in the wild, and protecting them from poachers. Robin argues that it would be more efficient to allocate funds to preserving currently endangered species rather than attempting to revive an extinct one.

These mice are still being tested, so their ability to adapt to colder climates is unknown. The important thing is that they are alive and healthy, unlike their role models.