An In-Depth Look at the Mission to Clone the Extinct Woolly Mammoth

In a recent video by Motherboard, Vice reporters went to Sooam Biotech in South Korea to learn about the company that is at the forefront of cloning technology. The company can already clone dogs for the hefty price tag of $100,000 each, but they are also working to successfully clone a woolly mammoth using cells taken from preserved specimens of the extinct species.

It is believed that the woolly mammoth died out during the Quaternary extinction event, but it is unclear whether climate change or hunting by early humans was the leading cause.

In an accompanying article to the video, University of Manitoba molecular biologist Kevin Campbell explains the challenges in trying to clone a mammoth, and why the resulting animal won’t be a true clone of the original.