Biologists Plan to Bring the Woolly Mammoth Back to Life by 2019

Back From the Dead

 CRISPR/Cas9 has allowed for some pretty significant developments. Researchers have used the technique to cure sickle cell disease, fight famine, and even cut out cancer. Now, the gene editing tool could even bring species back from extinction – and scientists say it could happen for the woolly mammoth within the next two years.

Prof George Church and his team at Harvard University have been studying the DNA from frozen mammoths found preserved in the Arctic. Specifically, they've been looking for genes that separated them from elephants.

Since elephant species are currently on the brink of extinction, the team is attempting to splice mammoth DNA into the genome of an elephant embryo in order to create a mammoth-elephant hybrid. The goal is to eventually grow a mammoth embryo within an artificial womb, as to not compromise the reproductive system of a healthy elephant.

Professor Church stated, “Our aim is to produce a hybrid elephant/mammoth embryo. Actually, it would be more like an elephant with a number of mammoth traits. We’re not there yet, but it could happen in a couple of years.”

Back From the Brink

As awesome as playing Ice Age Jurassic Park sounds, there are also other preventative applications for this technology. According to Dr. Edze Westra of the University of Exeter, "One can also use this technology for engineering the DNA of rapidly declining species or those that are becoming too inbred to increase their chance of survival."

Prof Church said the mammoth project has two main goals: securing an alternative future for the endangered Asian elephant and helping to combat global warming.  Chruch explains that the animals could, “keep the tundra from thawing by punching through snow and allowing cold air to come in. In the summer they knock down trees and help the grass grow.”

Any of these possibilities are well worth the continued research. Technology is allowing for the impossible to become reality. Just a few years ago, we couldn't have dreamed of an extinct animal brought back, and now we could be within a few years of actually seeing that.