Scientists at US biotechnology firm Colossal Biosciences have successfully bred genetically modified woolly mice for the first time. This is in preparation to ultimately bring back the woolly mammoth from extinction by the end of 2028. More accurately, they will genetically engineer the Asian elephant (closely related to the woolly mammoth) with qualities to match the woolly mammoth.
The genetically modified woolly mice had various combinations of distinct hair types, including woolly curly coats of lengthy fur with a mammoth-like golden-brown color.
According to a quote from the Guardian:
“The team focused on disrupting nine genes associated with hair color, texture, length or pattern or hair follicles.”
But the CNN article says the following:
“In total, the team made eight edits simultaneously, using three cutting-edge techniques, to seven mice genes.
Most of these genes were selected because they were already known to influence the coats of mice. The induced genetic disruptions were intended to produce physical traits similar to those seen in mammoths, including the striking golden hair.
Fat metabolism related genes were also modified, since the future woolly mammoths will need to survive in cold environments. Woolly mammoths used to roam the frozen tundras of Europe, Asia and North America, before going extinct 4,000 years ago.
Interestingly, one of the genes that was targeted was FGF-5 (fibroblast growth factor 5), the inhibition of which I have covered on this blog before.
Colossal’s chief scientist officer Beth Shapiro was interviewed on NPR yesterday and the official paper was also published yesterday.
Colossal has raised $435 million since it was founded in 2021 by billionaire CEO Ben Lamm and legendary Harvard University geneticist George Church. The latter is a Professor of Genetics at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University.
Woolly Scalp Humans via Gene Therapy
As scientists become increasingly efficient at pinpointing the exact set of genes to target for various conditions, how will governments react? Will they allow people to genetically alter their yet-to-be-born children just for cosmetic purposes such as scalp hair in the future?
More importantly, when will we be able to edit our scalp hair genes as adults (i.e., gene therapy via CRISPR or other such technologies), since we missed out on pre-birth genetic modification?
Also make sure to check out my past posts on key human hair related genes and on genetic engineering to cure hair loss.