Rob Stein

So to answer that, I have to start with the mammoths. Okay. Colossal Biosciences wants to bring the mammoth back by using the latest genetic engineering techniques to create modern-day elephants with key traits from the mammoth. Cool. You know, traits like their signature thick coat and their fat metabolism that kept them warm in the Arctic.

So they started by comparing genomes from samples of ancient DNA recovered from mammoth remains with genomes from living African and Asian elephants, the mammoths' closest living relatives.

So they started by comparing genomes from samples of ancient DNA recovered from mammoth remains with genomes from living African and Asian elephants, the mammoths' closest living relatives.

So they started by comparing genomes from samples of ancient DNA recovered from mammoth remains with genomes from living African and Asian elephants, the mammoths' closest living relatives.

That's Beth Shapiro, the chief science officer at Colossal.

That's Beth Shapiro, the chief science officer at Colossal.

That's Beth Shapiro, the chief science officer at Colossal.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Exactly. And they narrowed down that list of candidate genes to 10 genes for the coat and the fat. Okay. But they wanted to make sure that the genes they had identified were really responsible for the traits that they wanted.

Exactly. And they narrowed down that list of candidate genes to 10 genes for the coat and the fat. Okay. But they wanted to make sure that the genes they had identified were really responsible for the traits that they wanted.

Exactly. And they narrowed down that list of candidate genes to 10 genes for the coat and the fat. Okay. But they wanted to make sure that the genes they had identified were really responsible for the traits that they wanted.

They couldn't just, you know, try to engineer Asian elephants with genes they thought might control those traits because it would be unethical given the fact that Asian elephants are endangered.

They couldn't just, you know, try to engineer Asian elephants with genes they thought might control those traits because it would be unethical given the fact that Asian elephants are endangered.

They couldn't just, you know, try to engineer Asian elephants with genes they thought might control those traits because it would be unethical given the fact that Asian elephants are endangered.

But a mouse is a different story.

But a mouse is a different story.

But a mouse is a different story.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. That's exactly how it works. The mice are great little critters for doing these kinds of experiments, seeing the effects of genetic changes, because they reproduce so fast and scientists, you know, they just know how to work with them.