If science fiction has taught us anything over the years, it is that there is an inherent danger every time humanity decides to interpret God. And yet the temptation to seek progress, satiate curiosity, and gain knowledge is often too strong to ignore. Sometimes these desires can lead to some really fascinating innovations. And, depending on who you ask, worrying uns.
It was recently reported that a new company called Colossal, which Complex reported was founded by scientists and entrepreneurs, has set its sights on reactivating the defunct Wooly Mammoth.
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A majestic creature that has long fascinated ice age fans of all ages, the Woolly Mammoth is said to have become extinct ten thousand years ago. Now, Colossal has amassed fifteen million dollars in private funding to bring the great beast back to life, its first step in an ambitious attempt to end extinction.
Although this may seem like one Jurassic Park sequel and / or restart, there seem to be several bright minds at the center of the project. A Stat News report highlights the words of “Harvard scientist and pioneer of DNA sequencing George Church,” who offered some reflections on the company. “This is an important milestone for us,” he says, talking about multi-million dollar funding. “It will make a difference in the world.”
With experiments conducted in laboratories in Boston and Dallas, one of the first major experiments will be to “edit” the DNA of existing elephants in the hope of being able to closely reflect that of the Mammoth. Over time, the goal would be to produce a mammal-like elephant embryo, with Colossal projecting that theoretically a calf could be born within six years.
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But that’s not the end, as stated on the company’s website, Colossal one day hopes to see “See again the trumpet of the woolly mammoth on the tundra.” They also note the positive impact that mammoth herds could have on the Arctic tundra. “By felling dark trees that absorb sunlight,” the Stat News report explains, “mammoths (or even cold-adapted elephants) would transform tundra into light-reflecting meadows that keep the ground colder, blocking methane and creating there is also a lot of plant matter to block carbon “.
In general, the pursuit of recovering the woolly mammoth is likely to generate cautious optimism and general caution from skeptics. Not to forget the lessons instilled by years of science fiction, including the aforementioned Jurassic Park, which highlighted the dangers of experimenting with prehistoric creatures. Still, it will certainly be interesting to see what the Colossal team can do with a $ 15 million budget and a dream, do you think they will succeed in their mission to end extinction as we know it?
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