Woolly mammoth plans to revive with the help of new technologies
Colossal, an American company working with geneticists from Harvard University, has announced plans to revive the woolly mammoth. The technology they have developed can help restore other species of animals that are on the verge of complete extinction, according to Agence France-Presse.
Experts noted that the return of extinct species can heal the Earth's ecosystems and, therefore, slow down global warming.
The last woolly mammoths became extinct about four thousand years ago. They once roamed the vast territories of the Arctic. But gradually their number declined. The last population that survived on Wrangel Island no longer resembled their majestic ancestors – mammoths decreased in size and suffered from numerous diseases associated with closely related crossing.
For decades, scientists have examined the remains of mammoths in an attempt to sequence their DNA. The authors of the new development plan to insert DNA sequences of woolly mammoths into the genome of Asian elephants to create a hybrid of its kind.
Previous studies have shown that the DNA of these species matches 99.6%. Colossal co-founder George Church, a renowned geneticist and professor at Harvard Medical School, plans to use new methods in his experiments, including CRISPR technology.
Experts note that woolly mammoths, which made long migrations during their lifetime, could have an impact on the restoration of the Arctic region. The vital activity of these animals would be useful for the regeneration of arctic meadows and other ecosystems.
Earlier it was reported that scientists were able to isolate the oldest mammoth DNA in history. She is about a million years old.
