De-extinction of the wooly mammoth by 2028?

 

 

• Colossal's scientists are working to recreate the woolly mammoth genome
• If successful, they would use Asian elephants as surrogate mothers
• The company plans to monetize some of the technologies it develops in the process
• READ MORE: Scientists one step closer to recreating extinct species after breakthrough involving Tasmanian tiger

 

The last woolly mammoths died out about 4,000 years ago, but if the folks at Colossal Biosciences have their way, a calf will be born by 2028. 

 

Scientists at the company aim to rebuild the woolly mammoth genome using samples from unearthed specimens, filling in the gaps with DNA from modern Asian elephants. 

 

They then have to coax woolly mammoth embryos into surrogate elephants and find tribal and governmental partners willing to let the company release - or 're-wild' - woolly mammoths onto their land.

 

The two species share 99.6 percent of their genome, so this is not as big of a stretch as it may sound. 

 

Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm told DailyMail.com: 'It is a very charismatic creature.'

 

'We should be so lucky that 10,000 years from now, people love us as much as we love mammoths.'

 

The remains of woolly mammoths, like this one found in Canada in 2022, can help scientists reconstruct the species' genetic code.

 

Read More Here:  Daily Mail