A U.S. company working on the revival of the woolly mammoth has successfully created a new breed of mouse with thick, fluffy fur—just like a mammoth. Could this mean that the long-extinct mammoth might one day walk the Earth again?

In the hands of a researcher sit three tiny mice. Unlike ordinary mice, they have notably thicker fur, and instead of the usual gray, their coats are a light brown hue. These are the "Colossal Fluffy Mice," engineered by an American biotech company. The research team revealed that they achieved this by simultaneously editing seven genes in the mice, replicating the color, texture, and thickness of mammoth fur.

The team’s ultimate goal is to create a "mammoth-like" elephant by decoding and analyzing the genetic differences between woolly mammoths and modern elephants, then applying genetic modifications. Their plan is to genetically alter Asian elephants and bring a mammoth-like creature to life by 2028. While some experts recognize the technological advancements behind this research, others point out that reviving an extinct species like the mammoth is an incredibly complex challenge.

(KBS, March 5, 2025)