Bioscience company claims it can “resurrect” the extinct woolly mammoth

Bioscience company Colossal says that with genetic engineering technology CRISPR could be used to bring back mammoths that became extinct in the Holocene epoch.

Tech entrepreneur and geneticist Ben Lamm on Monday (13/09) launched a new biotech company that will bring back the extinct woolly mammoth.

Colossal, a bioscience company in partnership with Harvard geneticists, claims the CRISPR genetic engineering technology could be used to revive animals that became extinct during the Holocene epoch more than 11,000 years ago.

“Never before has humanity been able to harness the power of this technology to rebuild ecosystems, heal our Earth and preserve its future through an extinct animal population,” Lamm said in a statement.

One of the efforts to overcome the challenges of climate change?

Renowned geneticist and Harvard University genetics professor George Church, who is also a co-founder of the company said “Colossal leverages the exponential advances made in technology to read and write DNA and apply them to iconic ecological conservation and carbon sequestration issues.”

Scientists have managed to find mammoth tusks, bones and fur to try to sequence the animal’s DNA. This DNA will then be inserted into the mammoth genome to form an “elephant-mamot hybrid,” the company said in a statement.

Colossal said it has so far raised $15 million (Rp210 billion) from investors. Those who support the project say the process of “reviving” the woolly mammoth could help humans gain new knowledge about biology, evolution and technology.

The revival of extinct species is considered to be able to repair damaged ecosystems. In the case of the mammoth, Colossal believes the animal could revitalize the Arctic prairie, its properties could reduce global warming. However, they did not provide any details on how it happened.

What are the disadvantages of this program?

However the idea of ​​”reviving” extinct species can have drawbacks.

A study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution in March 2017 found that this program would be very expensive. The scientists behind the study believe that public or private funds spent would be better spent protecting existing species.

Another downside is the concern that resurrected animals will carry new pathogens that might infect humans, along with how they will impact the environment. This program is also considered to be able to improve animal welfare issues.

The United Nations previously said in a 2019 report that one million species of animals, plants and fungi face extinction in the coming decades. Climate change is also impacting species such as polar bears, cheetahs and green turtles.

In the past, woolly mammoths roamed the Arctic, and coexisted with early humans who hunted them for food and used their tusks and bones as tools.

rap / hp (AFP)

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