In a groundbreaking development, scientists have successfully engineered a “woolly mouse,” marking a significant step towards the potential resurrection of the woolly mammoth. This achievement brings one question to my mind – Have we learned nothing from Jurassic Park?
The Woolly Mouse: A Scientific Milestone
Colossal Biosciences, the company behind this experiment, has managed to create a mouse with traits similar to those of the ancient woolly mammoth. This “woolly mouse” boasts faster-growing, thicker hair and several other adaptations for cold environments.
The company views this as a “watershed moment” in their mission to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo. I love how they pick those three to avoid the obvious Dinosaur parallels.
The Jurassic Park Parallel
Oh, about that, the story of Jurassic Park serves as a cautionary tale about the unforeseen consequences of reviving extinct species. As I’m sure you are aware, in the movie, the resurrection of dinosaurs leads to chaos and disaster, in fact the whole point of the movie is maybe this isn’t a great idea.
The underlying message remains relevant: Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.
What’s next?
While the creation of the woolly mouse is a remarkable scientific achievement, it really feels like we need to pump the breaks a bit.
How do we weigh the potential benefits against the risks and ethical considerations. The lessons from Jurassic Park remind us that the consequences of our actions can be unpredictable and far-reaching – like everyone getting eaten for instance.
As we stand on the brink of potentially reviving extinct species, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly learned nothing from Jurassic Park?