Scientists in Dallas, Texas, have created mice with long fur and increased cold tolerance in what they say is a step toward bringing back the woolly mammoth.Researchers at Colossal Biosciences modified seven genes in mice that showed a physical effect, all related to hair growth.Colossal Biosciences said the mice possess mammoth-like traits that would assist life in a cold climate, including coat color, texture, and thickness reminiscent of a woolly mammoth, a species that has been extinct for thousands of years. The next step, they say, is to modify an elephant.Cofounder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences Ben Lamm said the company is aiming for de-extinction, which he claims could stop Arctic permafrost from melting and “revive ecosystems that are suffering the effects of mass extinction.”“The Colossal Woolly Mouse marks a watershed moment in our de-extinction mission,” Lamm said. “This success brings us a step closer to our goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth.” Credit: Colossal Biosciences via Storyful