A groundbreaking project to genetically engineer a modern version of the woolly mammoth, the ancient giant that roamed the Earth 4,000 years ago, has made significant strides, according to the scientists involved. The ambitious long-term goal of the project is to create a living hybrid of an elephant and mammoth, visually indistinguishable from its extinct ancestor, in an effort to restore the delicate Arctic tundra ecosystem.

Led by Harvard University geneticist George Church, the project has gained momentum since Church co-founded Colossal Biosciences, based in Dallas, in February 2021. With an infusion of funding and increased public attention, the team has been working towards their mission for over a decade.

Recently, Colossal Biosciences announced a major breakthrough. Head of biological sciences, Eriona Hysolli, and George Church revealed that they had successfully reprogrammed cells from an Asian elephant, the closest living relative of the mammoth, into an embryonic state. This marks the first time that stem cells have been derived from elephant cells. The researchers plan to publish this work in a scientific journal, pending peer review.

These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the remarkable capability to renew indefinitely and transform into any type of cell in the body. This invaluable tool enables the researchers to model, test, and refine the numerous genetic modifications required to bestow an Asian elephant with the traits necessary for adaptation in the Arctic, such as a woolly coat, insulating fat, and smaller ears.

Additionally, the stem cells provide an opportunity for scientists to delve into the unique biology of Asian elephants. These creatures, for reasons not yet fully understood, exhibit a remarkable resistance to cancer. By inhibiting specific genes associated with this resistance, the researchers aim to further study the biology of the Asian elephant and potentially benefit conservation efforts.

The conservation genetics director of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Oliver Ryder, commended Colossal Biosciences' cellular research techniques for opening new avenues in saving the endangered Asian elephant. Ryder noted that the impact on conservation efforts would be centered around genetic rescue and assisted reproduction.

Beyond conservation, the project holds the key to resurrecting the woolly mammoth. Once the elephant's cells have been edited to possess mammoth-like genetic traits, they can be used to generate eggs, sperm, and eventually embryos that could be implanted into an artificial womb. However, this process, akin to the cloning techniques used for Dolly the sheep in 1996, is complex and time-consuming.

Colossal Biosciences has set an initial deadline of six years to achieve this milestone. Church believes the first engineered elephant will be a significant breakthrough, followed by the creation of a cold-resistant mammoth. Ultimately, the team aims to develop a scalable approach that bypasses surrogates.

To inform their genetic modifications, the researchers have analyzed the DNA from 53 woolly mammoths, deriving the genetic factors that make the mammoths distinct. Although the precise number of modifications required for the Asian elephant to withstand Arctic temperatures has not been disclosed, the team aims to eliminate tusks to prevent the animals from being targeted by poachers.

If successful, the resurrection of mammoths could have potential implications for the Arctic ecosystem. Researchers speculate that the presence of mammoths, along with other grazing animals like horses and bison, may help slow permafrost thaw. However, some experts argue that the impact of reintroducing cold-adapted elephants might be limited in a region experiencing alarming rates of warming.

Colossal Biosciences has also shared plans to resurrect the Tasmanian tiger in 2022 and the dodo in 2023, although their work on the woolly mammoth has been ongoing for the longest period.

As the project continues to captivate the scientific community and the public alike, the advancement in genetically engineering woolly mammoths offers hope for the restoration of ecosystems and the preservation of endangered species.