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Woolly mammoths? Mars? Let’s take care of what we’ve got
The creation of a “mammoth mouse” raises questions about the allocation of scarce resources in scientific quests.
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Woolly mice that have been genetically modified with mammoth genes.
PHOTO: COLOSSAL BIOSCIENCES
Lara Williams
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Last week, science delivered a really cute experimental result. Researchers created a “colossal woolly mouse”, a fluffy rodent that’s purported to be a step on the way to resurrecting woolly mammoths from prehistory.
But that project – along with Mr Elon Musk’s obsession with establishing a colony on Mars – makes me wonder: Wouldn’t the enthusiasm and resources be better devoted to protecting the animals and planet we already have?
