In recent news, the US startup Colossal Biosciences has declared ambitious plans to resurrect the woolly mammoth species and reintroduce them into the icy scenery of the Siberian tundra.
Understanding Mammoths
The Mammoth species (genus Mammuthus) belonged to an extinct group of elephants. Their fossils can be traced back to the Pleistocene epoch, which began 2.6 million years ago and ended 11,700 years ago. They were also found in early Holocene deposits in North America, a period that began 11,700 years ago and continues to the present day. The most notable species among them was the woolly or Siberian mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), primarily due to their abundance and remarkable preservation in Siberia’s permanently frozen ground.
Reasons Behind Their Extinction
Many theories have been postulated regarding the extinction of mammoths. Some believe it was due to climate change, disease, human hunting practices, or a combination of these factors.
The Case for De-extinction
The de-extinction of woolly mammoths could potentially benefit the ecosystem and the fight against climate change. Thousands of years ago, when mammoths vanished from the Arctic, shrubs replaced what used to be grassland. Reintroducing mammoth-like creatures could restore this ecosystem by compressing shrubs, toppling trees, and fertilizing grasses with their excrements. Furthermore, the melting of Siberian permafrost, a current environmental threat, could be prevented through de-extinction as grasslands may reflect more light and thus keep the ground cooler than tundra.
Technological Breakthroughs in De-extinction
Colossal Biosciences plans to utilize CRISPR gene editing technology to modify Asian elephant embryos in their attempt to bring back mammoths. The Asian elephant is the closest living relative to the woolly mammoth, making their genomes bear a close resemblance to those of the mammoths.
Possible Drawbacks and Concerns
However, several concerns have been raised about reintroducing extinct species. This could disrupt existing ecosystems, particularly if the ecological niches previously filled by these species no longer exist. The cost and focus on de-extinction might detract from other cost-effective efforts to protect biodiversity or mitigate climate change. There are also moral hazards associated with reversing extinction, such as diminishing the urgency to protect existing species from extinction. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that newly engineered hybrids, despite containing mammoth DNA, will exhibit behaviors of ancient mammoths.
A closer look at the Tundra
The tundra climate region occurs mainly along the Arctic coast of North America, Eurasia, and the coastal margins of Greenland, between 60° and 75° of latitude. Tundra winters are harsh, lasting 6 to 10 months of the year with temperatures below freezing point. It is a treeless expanse characterized by a layer of permanently frozen ground known as permafrost and supports communities of sedges, heaths, and dwarf shrubs.