Colossal Biosciences is a U.S. company aiming to bring back extinct species using gene-editing and genomics, led by Harvard geneticist George Church.
Their main project is to revive the woolly mammoth, with the hope that its presence could help slow global warming by restoring Arctic grasslands.
During the Pleistocene Ice Ages, woolly mammoths roamed the tundra alongside other large animals like bison, wolves, cave lions, and giant deer, which all went extinct as the climate warmed.
As temperatures rise, permafrost begins to disappear, resulting in high emissions of methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
To prevent this, scientists at a Siberian park have been transporting large animals that are resistant to cold to see if their foraging can restore the grasslands.
Scientists are trying to edit elephant DNA to include mammoth traits and eventually grow a hybrid mammoth embryo in an elephant.
They have also tried to revive the dire wolf, but critics say the result is just a modified gray wolf, not a true revival.
While the genetic technology is impressive, the climate impact is unproven, and many scientists remain skeptical.
Critics argue the project diverts attention and funding from protecting endangered species that are still alive.
There are calls for stricter rules on using gene editing for non-medical purposes like de-extinction.
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