Scientists have derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephant skin cells for the first time. iPSCs can turn into any cell type.
This breakthrough will help study woolly mammoth traits like hair, fat and skull shape at the cellular level to better understand adaptations for Arctic life.
iPSCs could also be used to create mammoth sperm and eggs in the lab since obtaining eggs from wild elephants is difficult and undesirable.
Understanding elephant embryonic development is critical for de-extinction by implanting a woolly mammoth embryo into a surrogate elephant.
While engineering an embryo is feasible, birthing a healthy calf will take more research into elephant gestation and development.
iPSCs could boost conservation by creating reproductive cells for artificial fertilization to save endangered species.
The findings represent an important step towards creating a mammoth-like elephant for reviving the extinct species.
Source: livescience
