The day is approaching when the woolly mammoth, which went extinct 4,000 years ago, will reappear on snow-covered plains. On Mar. 4 (local time), the American biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences noted that it has given birth to the 'Colossal Woolly Mouse,' resembling a woolly mammoth. Colossal Biosciences is pursuing the de-extinction of the mammoth by implementing its genes into today's elephants. The research team has proven the possibility of a mammoth reconstruction by editing seven mouse genes simultaneously to create a coat color, texture, and thickness reminiscent of a mammoth.
◇Implementation of mammoth fur through genetic editing
Colossal's mammoth restoration plan is as follows: Decipher the genes of the mammoth and today's elephants. After identifying the differences, insert the mammoth's genes into today's elephants. During this process, the CRISPR gene-editing complex, which allows for cutting and pasting genes, is used.
Next is cloning. Stem cells with mammoth genes are injected into elephant embryos. These embryos are then implanted into a surrogate mother. This method is similar to how dinosaurs were restored in the movie Jurassic Park. In other words, it is about creating a mammoth-ized elephant.
Colossal's research team first tested this method on mice. This time, they edited nine genes responsible for the color, texture, and length of fur in mouse stem cells using gene editing tools. They modified the genes that create mouse fur to replicate mammoth fur. These stem cells were injected into mouse embryos and implanted into a surrogate's uterus. The mice that were later born had lush golden fur like a mammoth.
Colossal Biosciences' research team has expressed hope that genetically modified Asian elephants will give birth to mammoth-ized elephants by the end of 2028. Colossal's co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm remarked, "The birth of the Colossal Woolly Mouse is a watershed moment in our extinction prevention research," adding, "We have demonstrated the ability to replicate complex genetic combinations that nature has created over millions of years."
◇Extinct animal restoration invested by Paris Hilton
Colossal Biosciences was founded in 2021 by renowned geneticist George Church, a professor at Harvard University. The company, which has received hundreds of millions of won in investments, has been pursuing projects to restore extinct animals such as the mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo. Not only world-renowned investment firms but also celebrities like Paris Hilton, the great-granddaughter of the Hilton hotel founder, have invested in Colossal's extinct animal restoration efforts.
Colossal's co-founder, Professor George Church, has shown top expertise in the field of interspecies gene editing. He established a company called eGenesis, which edited 13 genes in pigs and transplanted organs into monkeys. The idea is to humanize pig organs for insertion into people.
Colossal previously extracted cells containing DNA from a mammoth carcass preserved in Siberian ice. Colossal has stated that it has already deciphered the genes of Asian and African elephants and established stem cells. Professor Church plans to implant the mammoth's genes into today's elephants to produce Siberian custom-tailored elephants that can withstand cold. Ben Lamm, the representative of Colossal, stated, "We have studied the ancient mammoth genome and compared it with the genome of Asian elephants to understand the differences, and we have already begun editing the elephant cells' genome."
References
bioRxiv(2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.03.641227