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Efforts To Turn Elephants Into Woolly Mammoths Are Already Underway

Posted by Soulskill on from the still-waiting-on-a-mammoth-steak dept.

Jason Koebler writes: "Researchers are working to hybridize existing animals with extinct ones in order to create a '2.0' version of the animal. Using a genome editing technique known as CRISPR, Harvard synthetic biologist George Church has successfully migrated three genes, which gave the woolly mammoth its furry appearance, extra layer of fat, and cold-resistant blood, into the cells of Asian elephants, with the idea of eventually making a hybrid embryo. In theory, given what we know about both the woolly mammoth genome and the Asian elephant genome, the final product will be something that more closely resembles the former than the latter."

5 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Misguided by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "furry appearance, extra layer of fat"

    Sounds like they are trying to make more Americans

  2. I for one... by Schaffner · · Score: 4, Funny

    I for one welcome our new hybridized mammoth overlords!

    Come on, you know you wanted to post this first.

  3. Re:Bad timing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lets look back at the records. As the mammoth population declined, temperature increased. Obviously we need more mammoths.

  4. Monsanto Mammoth by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 4, Funny

    And they sue you when it tramples your house.

  5. Re:Times sure are changing by russotto · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or create species that we can't get rid of and end up replacing good species that we want.

    Not to worry, come winter.... OH SHIT THAT DOESN'T WORK WITH MAMMOTHS!