De-extinction of Woolly Mammoths: A Breakthrough and Ethical Considerations

Dallas, Texas, Texas United States of America
However, it's important for researchers to approach de-extinction efforts with caution and consideration for ethical concerns.
Recently, Colossal Biosciences announced a breakthrough in creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants, which could be used to create embryonic stem cells with the genetic makeup of woolly mammoths. This is an important step towards bringing back this extinct species and potentially restoring balance to ecosystems that have been disrupted by their absence.
The de-extinction of the woolly mammoth is a topic that has fascinated scientists and researchers for years.
De-extinction of Woolly Mammoths: A Breakthrough and Ethical Considerations

The de-extinction of the woolly mammoth is a topic that has fascinated scientists and researchers for years. Recently, Colossal Biosciences announced a breakthrough in creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants, which could be used to create embryonic stem cells with the genetic makeup of woolly mammoths. This is an important step towards bringing back this extinct species and potentially restoring balance to ecosystems that have been disrupted by their absence. However, it's important for researchers to approach de-extinction efforts with caution and consideration for ethical concerns.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if the de-extinction of woolly mammoths will have a positive impact on the environment.
  • There are concerns about how introducing an extinct species into modern ecosystems could disrupt existing balance.

Sources

61%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Biotech company reveals breakthrough that could lead to revival of extinct woolly mammoth

New York Post David Propper Thursday, 07 March 2024 04:08
  • Unique Points
    • Colossal Biosciences has created a set of stem cells from an Asian elephant with the goal of bringing back a creature that would be similar to the woolly mammoth
    • `How many dead elephants are we willing to have to get one woolly one` - Tori Herridge, paleontologist at the University of Sheffield in England
  • Accuracy
    • The company plans to genetically tinker a stem cell's nucleus with genes from a mammoth and merge that with an elephant egg, then place the embryo in an elephant surrogate
  • Deception (30%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article suggests that Colossal Biosciences has successfully revived a woolly mammoth from extinction when in fact they have only created an animal with similar traits to it. Secondly, the author quotes George Church stating that this is 'probably' the most significant step in their project which implies uncertainty and lack of confidence. Thirdly, there are statements made by other scientists who disagree with Colossal Biosciences' goal such as Karl Flessa calling it 'irresponsible'. Lastly, the article mentions a potential benefit to climate change but does not provide any evidence or scientific backing for this claim.
    • The woolly mammoth could once again roam the earth.
    • 'This is probably the most significant step in the early stages of this project,' said geneticist and company co-founder George Church, a Harvard University professor.
    • Colossal Biosciences said it has created a set of stem cells from an Asian elephant in hopes of bringing back a creature that would be eerily similar to the woolly mammoth, according to reports.
  • Fallacies (70%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the opinions of experts without providing any evidence or reasoning for their claims. For example, when discussing the potential suffering of elephants that give birth to a new mammoth, the author quotes Tori Herridge as saying it is 'irresponsible'. However, this statement does not provide any evidence or reasoning for why bringing back an extinct species would be irresponsible. Additionally, the article contains inflammatory rhetoric when discussing the potential negative impact of releasing a herd of woolly mammoths into the Arctic tundra. The author uses phrases such as 'freak show' and 'second extinction', which are designed to elicit an emotional response rather than provide evidence or reasoning for their claims.
    • The article contains several fallacies. For example, when discussing the potential suffering of elephants that give birth to a new mammoth, the author quotes Tori Herridge as saying it is 'irresponsible'. However, this statement does not provide any evidence or reasoning for why bringing back an extinct species would be irresponsible.
    • The article contains inflammatory rhetoric when discussing the potential negative impact of releasing a herd of woolly mammoths into the Arctic tundra. The author uses phrases such as 'freak show' and 'second extinction', which are designed to elicit an emotional response rather than provide evidence or reasoning for their claims.
  • Bias (75%)
    The article contains a statement from the author that implies they are excited about the possibility of bringing back an animal similar to the woolly mammoth. This is an example of religious bias as it suggests that there is some sort of divine or spiritual significance in reviving this extinct species.
    • > The woolly mammoth could once again roam the earth.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    70%

    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

    Scientists take a step closer to resurrecting the woolly mammoth

    National Public Radio (NPR) Wednesday, 06 March 2024 00:00
    • Unique Points
      • Scientists are working to resurrect the extinct species of woolly mammoth
      • Colossal Biosciences has created induced pluripotent stem cells for the closest living relative of the woolly mammoth: Asian elephants
      • The achievement is a major step towards creating herds of giant hairy beasts roaming in the wild again, but it's not yet possible to create a perfect genome of a mammoth
      • Some scientists object to the idea of trying to revive extinct animals and raise ethical concerns about bringing back woolly mammoths
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (50%)
      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author does not disclose their sources or provide any evidence to support their claims about resurrecting extinct species. Secondly, the article uses sensationalist language such as 'scientists are working to bring back extinct species' and 'creating herds of giant hairy beasts roaming in the wild again'. This is misleading because it implies that scientists have successfully brought back an entire population of woolly mammoths when, in reality, they have only created stem cells for a close relative. Thirdly, the article quotes experts who are critical of the project but does not provide any counter-arguments or evidence to refute their claims. This is deceptive because it presents a one-sided view without providing all relevant information.
      • The article quotes experts who are critical of the project but does not provide any counter-arguments or evidence to refute their claims. This is deceptive because it presents a one-sided view without providing all relevant information.
      • The author uses sensationalist language such as 'scientists are working to bring back extinct species' and 'creating herds of giant hairy beasts roaming in the wild again'. This is misleading because it implies that scientists have successfully brought back an entire population of woolly mammoths when, in reality, they have only created stem cells for a close relative.
    • Fallacies (75%)
      The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the work of a biotech company and scientists. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing some scientists' objections to the project as 'freak show in a zoo'. Additionally, there is no evidence presented that supports any claims made about the woolly mammoths being able to survive in cold climates or their resistance to herpesvirus. The article also contains an example of dichotomous depiction when describing some scientists' objections as 'irresponsible' and others defending the project.
      • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing some scientists' objections to the project as a 'freak show in a zoo'.
      • There is no evidence presented that supports any claims made about the woolly mammoths being able to survive in cold climates or their resistance to herpesvirus.
    • Bias (85%)
      The article discusses the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells for Asian elephants by a biotech company called Colossal Biosciences. The goal is to use these stem cells to create mammoths with key traits such as their heavy coats and layers of fat that enabled them to survive in cold climates. However, the article also discusses ethical concerns raised by some scientists who believe it is irresponsible or a bad idea.
      • The woolly mammoth was a big, shaggy species of elephant that roamed the tundra before going extinct thousands of years ago.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The article discusses the potential for cloning and genetic engineering techniques to resurrect extinct species such as woolly mammoths. The author is George Church who has a financial stake in Colossal Biosciences, a company that aims to bring back extinct animals through these methods.
        • The article mentions the involvement of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in this research.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        68%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Colossal Biosciences: Stem cell breakthrough brings woolly mammoth revival closer

        Business Insider Marianne Guenot Thursday, 07 March 2024 18:49
        • Unique Points
          • Colossal Biosciences is working on a breakthrough in creating reprogrammed elephant stem cells.
          • , which could unlock several fields of research, including how to make the building blocks for a mammoth baby.
          • , bringing back lost species while also helping species on the brink of extinction survive harsh changes like the climate crisis. The company is currently valued at $1.5 billion and has grand plans that include bringing back the woolly mammoth and dodo.
          • Colossal Biosciences thinks it can create a mammoth-like, gene-edited creature through IVF by 2028.
          • , which are notoriously tricky to study in the lab. The company hopes to use this knowledge to help living elephants as well.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive because it exaggerates the achievements and goals of Colossal Biosciences without providing sufficient evidence or sources. It uses phrases like 'momentous breakthrough', 'long-term goals' and 'bring back this iconic species' that imply a higher level of certainty and success than what is actually supported by the facts in the article. The article also does not disclose any sources for the claims made by Colossal Biosciences or its cofounders, which raises questions about their credibility and motives. Additionally, the article uses emotional language like 'bolster biodiversity' and 'helping species on the brink of extinction survive harsh changes' to manipulate readers into supporting de-extinction projects without considering the ethical, environmental and scientific implications.
          • The goal, I think, is to turn these iPSCs into sperm and eggs, which would allow for in vitro fertilization and, eventually, surrogacy
          • Each step brings us closer to our long-term goals of bringing back this iconic species
          • Elephants might get the 'hardest to reprogram' prize, but learning how to do it anyway will help many other studies, especially on endangered species
          • The advance is "momentous" as it could unlock several fields of research
          • We knew when we set out on the woolly mammoth de-extinction project that it would be challenging, but we've always had the best team on the planet focused on the task at hand
        • Fallacies (70%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (80%)
          The article contains several examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the woolly mammoth and other extinct species by referring to them as 'lost' or 'iconic'. This is an example of religious bias as it implies a belief in some sort of divine order or purpose for these animals, which may not be supported by scientific evidence. The author also uses language that suggests that the de-extinction project is solely about helping endangered species survive harsh changes like climate change, when in fact the primary goal is to bring back lost species and bolster biodiversity. This could be seen as an example of political bias as it implies a preference for certain policies or values over others without providing evidence to support this claim.
          • The author suggests that the primary goal of the de-extinction project is to help endangered species survive harsh changes like climate change, when in fact it is primarily about bringing back lost species and bolstering biodiversity
            • The author uses language that dehumanizes the woolly mammoth and other extinct species by referring to them as 'lost' or 'iconic'
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              Marianne Guenot has a conflict of interest on the topic of stem cell breakthrough as she is affiliated with Colossal Biosciences which is involved in this field.
              • .//dodo.
                • .//mammoth-like gene-edited creature.

                78%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Will these reprogrammed elephant cells ever make a mammoth?

                Nature Magazine Callaway, Ewen Thursday, 07 March 2024 18:56
                • Unique Points
                  • Scientists have successfully put elephant skin cells into an embryonic state.
                  • Colossal Biosciences has announced early technical success in its high-profile effort to engineer elephants with woolly mammoth traits.
                  • `If successful, the resulting animal would have traits such as a heavy fur coat and plenty of fat to withstand freezing temperatures` - Colossal Biosciences
                  • The company plans to genetically tinker a stem cell's nucleus with genes from a mammoth and merge that with an elephant egg, then place the embryo in an elephant surrogate.
                  • `What are you going to get out of this? First of all, I think you're going to get a bit of a freak show in a zoo somewhere. And then if you're going to release a herd into the Arctic tundra, is that herd going to go marching off to its second extinction in the face of global warming?` - Karl Flessa
                  • aThey're a lot of reasons to restore that environment to what it was. This is the keystone species that’s missing for that⟢- George Church on bringing back woolly mammoth as a means to help battle climate change
                • Accuracy
                  • The difficulty of establishing elephant iPS cells underscores the huge technical hurdles Colossal faces.
                • Deception (50%)
                  The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that Asian elephants can be genetically engineered to have mammoth-like traits when there is no evidence presented in the body of the article to support this claim. Secondly, Colossal Biosciences claims that they are on track for establishing iPS cells from an elephant but fails to provide any details about their success rate or how close they are to achieving this goal. Thirdly, Loring states that adding elephants to the list of animals with established iPS cell lines is important but does not mention anything about the challenges faced in creating these cells. Finally, Church mentions that he thinks Colossal Biosciences has a hard time establishing elephant iPS cells which contradicts their claim of success.
                  • The title implies that Asian elephants can be genetically engineered to have mammoth-like traits when there is no evidence presented in the body of the article to support this claim.
                  • Loring states that adding elephants to the list of animals with established iPS cell lines is important but does not mention anything about the challenges faced in creating these cells.
                  • Colossal Biosciences claims that they are on track for establishing iPS cells from an elephant but fails to provide any details about their success rate or how close they are to achieving this goal.
                  • Church mentions that he thinks Colossal Biosciences has a hard time establishing elephant iPS cells which contradicts their claim of success.
                • Fallacies (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Bias (85%)
                  The author demonstrates bias by selectively quoting from a preprint that will soon appear on the server bioRxiv. The quote is used to support the claim that TP53 was dialled down in elephant cells, but no context or explanation of why this step was necessary is provided.
                  • but in some experiments, the cells took on a rounded shape similar to that of stem cells. Hysolli’s team added the four ‘Yamanaka’ factors to these cells, then took another step that turned out to be key to success: dialling down the expression of an anti-cancer gene called TP53.
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication

                  85%

                  The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                  (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                  A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                  Woolly mammoth de-extinction inches closer after elephant stem cell breakthrough

                  FibarOttaeli News Site Sascha Pare Wednesday, 06 March 2024 17:36
                  • Unique Points
                    • Scientists have made a stem cell breakthrough in elephants that could mean researchers are one step closer to bringing back long-extinct woolly mammoths.
                    • The Woolly Mammoth team at Colossal Biosciences has successfully derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants, which can reveal the cellular and genetic processes behind features that helped woolly mammoths thrive in the Arctic.
                    • The iPSC breakthrough also opens a path to creating elephant sperm and egg cells, essential for mammoth de-extinction in the lab.
                  • Accuracy
                    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                  • Deception (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Fallacies (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Bias (85%)
                    The article discusses the de-extinction of woolly mammoths and how a breakthrough in elephant stem cell research could bring them back. The author mentions that Colossal Biosciences has successfully derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants, which can reveal the cellular and genetic processes behind features that helped woolly mammoths thrive in the Arctic. This is an example of a bias towards de-extinction efforts for endangered species.
                    • Colossal Biosciences has successfully derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants
                      • The article discusses the de-extinction of woolly mammoths
                        • This is an example of a bias towards de-extinction efforts for endangered species.
                        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication