Science fiction? Think twice. This is a challenge to be taken up by the bioscience company Colossal. They will undertake the project to resurrect the woolly mammoth from the Arctic tundra. New technologies would make it possible.
“Let’s think of technologies to restore ecosystems, to heal the Earth. Or preserve the future through repopulating extinct animals.” Colossal co-founder and tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm commented.
Mammoth with elephants
Colossal commented on some details of the venture. First they will extract the DNA from the mammoth remains, and then they will insert it into the genome of the Indian elephants. And then they will insert it into the genome of Indian elephants. Why in them? Because the DNA of the two are 99.6% similar.
The company is cooperating with Harvard Genetics. Announces that it hopes to find a functional model to restore damaged or lost ecosystems. And thereby mitigate or lower the effects of climate change. They’ve already raised $15 million for the program.
The woolly mammoth inhabited most of the Arctic territory. It coexisted with early humans. They hunted herbivores and used their tusks and bones as tools. The animals became extinct about 4000 years ago. Scientists have recovered the remains of the woolly mammoths, such as teeth, tusks and hairs. They will then be able to sequence the DNA.
Pros and cons
Proponents of the idea of animal resurrection point to the benefits of the idea. It is not only biological and evolutionary learning. It could also repair ecosystems damaged by humans. A great opportunity for conservation.
This would make it easier to preserve endangered species, say bioscientists. The project to resurrect the woolly mammoth would revitalize the Arctic territories. Even mitigate global warming.
There is a potential danger. Resurrected animals could carry pathogens that harm the environment.
A million animals, plants, and fungi face possible extinction in the coming decades. Climate change only accelerates that process.
