back to article Scientists create woolly ma-mouse by looking at mean genes from the Pleistocene

US scientists have created a "woolly" mouse by expressing genetic information gathered from woolly mammoths and elephants, which they see as a step toward bringing the extinct species back to life. wooly mouse Woolly mouse – click to enlarge (Image © Colossal Biosciences) The lab-created rodents were engineered to express a …

  1. Not also known as SC
    Happy

    Mega Cute

    Move over internet cats - you have a rival!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Mega Cute

      Kind of like a Guinea Pig, but smaller. I propose we call it a "Half a Crown Pig".

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: Mega Cute

        >Move over internet cats - you have a rival!

        Are the mice going to be Mammoth sized ?

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        2. This post has been deleted by its author

      2. Bebu sa Ware
        Coat

        Re: Mega Cute

        Kind of like a Guinea Pig, but smaller. I propose we call it a "Half a Crown Pig".

        Curiously one slang term for 2/6 was a "hog."

        Another "tosheroon" seems more a marketable term. "Tosheroon Pigs 10/6 in this style." :)

        Cannot imagine your average cat is going to be overly impressed with the prospect of woolly mice.

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: Mega Cute

          "Cannot imagine your average cat is going to be overly impressed with the prospect of woolly mice."

          Think of the fur balls they'll cough up!!!!

    2. This post has been deleted by its author

  2. Paul Herber Silver badge

    'ten genes related to hair length, thickness,'

    two foot long hair on a mouse. I love that idea.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      How long before Musk is beating a path to their door?

      1. Paul Herber Silver badge

        What sort of perversion is that?

      2. Paul Herber Silver badge

        Of all the arctic megafauna somehow the Musk Ox has survived!

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Bezos is more their target market.

  3. Gene Cash Silver badge

    Minmoths...

    I wonder if they have any Girl Geniuses on their staff...

    1. Neil Barnes Silver badge
      Pint

      Re: Minmoths...

      Beat me to it, Gene. Have one of these --->

  4. Fido

    Global Winter

    Rather than mammoths and mice equipped to survive extreme cold, wouldn't a species adapted to global warming be more practical?

    1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      Re: Global Winter

      The theory behind this is that the mammoth 2.0 would protect the tundra against melting of permafrost by removing dead grass. I initially found that a little difficult to follow as I'd have thought insulation would have helped keep it cold. I realised they must be thinking that geothermal warming is the problem and they want to encourage heat loss.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Global Winter

      We are already. That why we have peopled from the deserts to the tundra and migrate when needed.

  5. Long John Silver Bronze badge
    Pirate

    Boring

    Can we not make politicians of intelligence, sound education, and integrity, non-extinct?

    1. Rob Daglish

      Re: Boring

      Were there ever such creatures? I assumed they were entirely mythical!

      1. that one in the corner Silver badge

        Re: Boring

        They were out in their community, holding regular dialogues with their constituents, when the Ark sailed without them.

    2. RAMChYLD Bronze badge
      Pint

      Re: Boring

      A clone of Abraham Lincoln doesn't sound like a bad idea at this point in time. Anything goes.

      1. Benegesserict Cumbersomberbatch Silver badge

        Re: Boring

        Even a clone of John Wilkes Booth would be a start.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Boring

        Vampire problems?

  6. Management Order
    WTF?

    Pleistocene Park

    What could possibly go wrong with the mammoths idea?

    1. Neil Barnes Silver badge

      Re: Pleistocene Park

      Well, animated pleistocene is very very slow, Gromit.

      1. EvilDrSmith

        Re: Pleistocene Park

        But this is genetic engineering... What if it Morphs into something?

        https://fenrisgames.com/shop#!/FGGEK03-Xenomorph/p/48372816

        1. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
          Happy

          Re: Pleistocene Park

          Did someone say morph?

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSpQAXjjwjE

        2. Homo.Sapien.Floridanus

          Re: Pleistocene Park

          Fred Jones: Nice work catching the giant wooly mouse, Shaggy and Scooby. Now let's see who the real thief is who's been breaking into the cheese factory at night... hmmpf! this mask is fastened pretty good!

  7. karlkarl Silver badge

    Very cute.

    Once they are finished with those prototypes, my wife and I am more than happy to maintain them.

    1. that one in the corner Silver badge

      But the costs, for shampoo and conditioner alone!

      (Take *two* mice into the shower?..)

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Cuuuuuttte!

    Wooly mammouses! (Mammice?)

  9. Tron Silver badge

    Next, catgirls!

    Finally.

    1. CorwinX Bronze badge

      Re: Next, catgirls!

      I think I've posted here before about the devastation that could ensue mixing feline with female.

      Check out the Puma Twins in the classic Tank Police series.

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mElOqUQvchY

  10. AdmFubar

    so this is where tribbles come from... hopefully they dont have the appetite of a mammoth.

  11. Peter Prof Fox

    Scary

    Think of the size of the holes in the skirting board!

    1. Andy Non Silver badge

      Re: Scary

      ... and don't forget their tusks!

    2. collinsl Silver badge
  12. CorwinX Bronze badge

    While turning Cute up to 11

    I'd love to obtain and care for one two of these adorable little critters but given my cat is larger than most dogs it'd probably be a very short relationship :-)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: While turning Cute up to 11

      You need a big dog. I can sell you one - doesn't bite too much, frightens delivery men, opens doors (never shuts them), eats anything, digs holes, growls and barks at owls, low flying aircraft, people passing in the street, occasionally wees in my office - your mileage may vary.

      1. CorwinX Bronze badge

        Re: While turning Cute up to 11

        Most dogs learn early that they can bark at cats but not approch lest they get their nose striped.

        Dogs have claws but they're blunt not sharp.

        I needed to check my cat's ears out coz he was scratching a lot. Sorted now.

        My right arm however now looks like a war zone.

        Still love the little bugger. ;-)

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: While turning Cute up to 11

          To quote Terry Pratchett:

          "If cats looked like frogs we'd realize what nasty, cruel little bastards they are. Style. That's what people remember." - Granny Weatherwax, *Lords and Ladies*

  13. Omnipresent Silver badge

    and yet...

    science still cannot fix danolds toupee .

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I wonder if we'll hear about the poor creature's lives; did they live a full term, any side effects etc? It's potentially huge business, the next big hype after AI; designer children and people. Can you imagine what the woke brigade will have done to their offspring?

  15. FrogsAndChips Silver badge

    I, for one,

    welcome our new tiny, cutesy, furry overlords.

    1. Stephen Wilkinson

      Re: I, for one,

      Tell Slartibartfast they're definitely keeping the fjords!

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Soon in an Arctic Research Station

    "Who's eaten all the bloody cheese??!!!"

  17. rassalas

    This is where the expression "Mad Scientist" comes from. Shut them down.

    1. nagyeger

      This is where the expression "Mad Scientist" comes from.

      Are you referring to the missing cheese? Yes, that's really annoying

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