[netcan]

So... Mammoths are elephants. Asian elephants are more closely related to mammoths than African elephants. They were likely genetically compatible. You could probably achieve a passable mammoth phenotype with selective breeding.

Also, Proboscideans existed in many climate zones through various climactic periods. They're not narrow specialists.

Mammoths just happen to capture the imagination, representing the ice age. Megafaunal extinction. Ancient hunters. Rewilding. Etc.

[jghn]

There's still an enormous number of edits they need to make. I don't remember the exact number they said but I believe it was in the several hundred to low thousands range. Meanwhile the rest of the world is mostly focusing on "an edit". It's not impossible, but it'll be quite an undertaking.

[netcan]

Enormous number of edits needed to achieve what specifically? Hairiness?

OOH... any hairy elephant they produce will be "mammoth enough" for most. Elephant + Hairy = Mammoth. It won't be the same species/subspecies as extinct mammoths, but it'll be a mammoth.

OTOH, any number of edits will be insufficient for others. It won't be the extinct species, just an artificial hybrid.

IMO... this is one that's best left as a fantasy. The moment there a little herd of resurrected mammals exist in a zoo as real life animals is the moment the mystique will dissipate.

[Suppafly]

>OTOH, any number of edits will be insufficient for others. It won't be the extinct species, just an artificial hybrid.

I think there is a sweet spot where most people would consider it to be an un-extincted mammoth vs just an elephant that was bred for extra hair.

[surfingdino]

Of course they capture the imagination... I mean... imagine wooly mammoths roaming the boulevards of Paris... or having wings and perching on top on the Eiffel Tower... sadly no cure for cancer in sight.

[tomcam]

Not quite sure where you were going with this reply, but username fits

[surfingdino]

I was jesting, but only so. I think we are going to see weird DNA experiments in the wild, because people will do it for shits and giggle (or social media engagement).