In current scientific research, there’s no “Bibbity Bobbity Boo” when it comes to turning mice into new and different creatures. The word de-extinction is a term coined by the company Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences, as a result of their studies to try and bring back extinct animals.

Colossal’s current project involves trying to bring back the woolly mammoth, which lived between 300,000 and 4,000 years ago. The woolly mammoth thrived during the Ice Ages but went extinct as a result of climate change, human hunting, and inbreeding, which ultimately led to a loss of genetic diversity. The woolly mammoths were “bioengineers” without even realizing it. Their size caused them to compact plants such as moss, shrubs, and uprooted trees, which led to cooler ground temperatures, preventing carbon dioxide from being released. Their large size also meant that they would pack down snow, insulating the ground and maintaining the permafrost.

So, how is a multi-billion-dollar company restoring these giant creatures? Moreover, why is a multi-billion-dollar company taking on such a large endeavor, an endeavor that could be met with political and social criticism?

Currently, Colossal Laboratories is using a mixture of genetics, software engineering, embryology, the exogenous development of fetuses, animal husbandry, and conservation. However, Colossal is creating its own technology along the way to help make their restoration process more effective and efficient. In the future, they hope that their restoration projects will eventually lead to “commercial evolution,” which will influence everlasting impacts on the longevity of species.

The idea of commercial evolution is broken up into four main steps. The first step is de-extinction, which means bringing back animals from our past, such as the woolly mammoth. The second step is software, wetware, and hardware, the creation of proper technology, both physically and digitally, to help aid in de-extinction processes. The third step is technology and intellectual property (IP) creation, due the the patentable nature of the new and unique technology that Colossal is creating. Finally, the last step is commercialization, meaning that the de-extinction discoveries will lead to “commercial evolution.”

Colossal’s main goal is to bring a future filled with biodiversity, which includes many foci. Genetics allows for genome modification and editing to allow certain genes to express themselves accordingly. The use of and insight gained through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning allows for the uncovering of patterns, the making of predictions, and the quickening of scientific discoveries. Embryology allows for insight on early development and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Stem cells can be converted into more specific cells, enabling the treatment for many diseases and the creation of new tissues. Conservation and animal husbandry allow for selective, optimized breeding and genetic selection, which increases the productivity and the protection of threatened and endangered species. Exogenous development is the study of the growth of organisms, taking into account external and environmental factors.

So what does a mouse have to do with a woolly mammoth? How does such a small creature play such a large role in bringing back a giant creature?

On March 4, small “woolly” mice were introduced to the public. These creatures were ‘genetically edited’ leading to their long and thick hair, similar to the woolly mammoth’s. These ‘genetically edited’ mice were one of the first steps in hopefully genetically engineering the embryo of an Asian elephant, the woolly mammoth’s closest relative. The reason that mice were first tested was due to the long gestation period for Asian elephants, 18-22 months. The scientists at Colossal edited genes that controlled fur texture, length, and color, along with one gene that controls fat metabolism and absorption.

These mice are one of only the first steps in resurrecting the woolly mammoth that once roamed the Earth, but they are an important step for the future of “commercial evolution.”