Scientists Create 'Woolly Mice' (npr.org)
(Tuesday March 04, 2025 @11:40AM (msmash)
from the how-about-that dept.)
- Reference: 0176613131
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/03/04/1624239/scientists-create-woolly-mice
- Source link: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/04/nx-s1-5299962/woolly-mammoth-extinction-mice-genetic-engineering
[1]EmagGeek shares a report:
> Scientists have [2]genetically engineered mice with some key characteristics of an extinct animal that was far larger -- the woolly mammoth. This "woolly mouse" marks an important step toward achieving the researchers' ultimate goal -- bringing a woolly mammoth-like creature back from extinction, they say.
>
> "For us, it's an incredibly big deal," says Beth Shapiro, chief science officer at Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas company trying to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other extinct species. The company announced the creation of the woolly mice Tuesday in a news release and posted a scientific paper online detailing the achievement. Scientists implanted genetically modified embryos in female lab mice that gave birth to the first of the woolly pups in October.
>
> My editorial: One has to wonder why it is necessary or even a great idea to bring back species that nature long ago determined were a failure.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~EmagGeek
[2] https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/04/nx-s1-5299962/woolly-mammoth-extinction-mice-genetic-engineering
> Scientists have [2]genetically engineered mice with some key characteristics of an extinct animal that was far larger -- the woolly mammoth. This "woolly mouse" marks an important step toward achieving the researchers' ultimate goal -- bringing a woolly mammoth-like creature back from extinction, they say.
>
> "For us, it's an incredibly big deal," says Beth Shapiro, chief science officer at Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas company trying to resurrect the woolly mammoth and other extinct species. The company announced the creation of the woolly mice Tuesday in a news release and posted a scientific paper online detailing the achievement. Scientists implanted genetically modified embryos in female lab mice that gave birth to the first of the woolly pups in October.
>
> My editorial: One has to wonder why it is necessary or even a great idea to bring back species that nature long ago determined were a failure.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~EmagGeek
[2] https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/04/nx-s1-5299962/woolly-mammoth-extinction-mice-genetic-engineering
Encore! (Score:2)
by gti_guy ( 875684 )
I guess people want to have an encore for extinction events?
Editorial question (Score:2)
by jenningsthecat ( 1525947 )
> One has to wonder why it is necessary or even a great idea to bring back species that nature long ago determined were a failure.
Maybe they're hoping to establish a precedent, to encourage some future intelligent life form to revive humankind in the event of our species' failure!
First step (Score:3)
towards our ultimate goal: the saber-tooth squirrel!
Re: (Score:2)
Hopefully the current acorns species are adequate. Is there a need to create a wooly acorn?