A company based in the United States has secured funding to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction.
The aptly named Company, Colossal, plans to use a gene-editing technology called CRISPR to bring the gigantic creatures back to life. Well, it doesn't exactly bring them back to life, but instead will imbue elephants with genetic features like smaller ears and increased body fat so that they may once again roam the arctic tundra, something they haven't done in over 10,000 years.
"Our true North Star is a successful restoration of the woolly mammoth, but also its successful rewilding into interbreeding herds in the Arctic," said Ben Lamm Chief Executive and co-founder of Colossal. "We're now focusing on having our first calves in the next four to six years."
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The project has already secured over $15 million and if you're anything like us, it's hard not to make the comparison to Jurassic Park. However, the project heads were quick to shoot down any prospects of using this breakthrough to create any sort of park-style tourism. "Our focus is on species preservation and protection of biodiversity right now, not in putting them in zoos,".
Featured image: Jinzo X via youtube.com
