How could cloning be used in efforts to restore an extinct species such as the woolly mammoth?

Efforts to restore the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) do not rely on traditional cloning alone, as the severe degradation of ancient DNA makes standard somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) impractical. Instead, current scientific approaches focus on de-extinction through gene editing.123

Biotechnology companies, such as Colossal Biosciences, are attempting to resurrect the species by modifying the genome of the Asian elephant, the mammoth’s closest living relative. By using tools like CRISPR to insert or edit specific mammoth genes into an Asian elephant embryo, researchers aim to produce an animal that expresses mammoth-like physical traits, such as a shaggy coat or cold-climate adaptations. This modified embryo would then be carried to term by a surrogate Asian elephant.132

Critics emphasize that this process would not create a true woolly mammoth but rather a "slightly modified" Asian elephant. Furthermore, the field faces significant ethical concerns regarding the welfare of cloned individuals, the potential for these animals to adapt to modern environments, and the broader implications of altering natural history.132