Meet the woolly mouse who turns science into Christmas magic

Colossal biosciences and his woolly mouse bring holiday magic to the lab this year, blending festive storytelling and scientific breakthroughs in unexpected ways.

In a whimsical way Christmas video, the biotech company turns a major genetic milestone into a cozy seasonal moment.

The result is a heartwarming introduction to a small creature with enormous scientific significance.

The holiday season has come early in the laboratories of Colossal Biosciences with the release of a festive short film shared exclusively with PEOPLE.

Inspired by The Visit of Saint Nicholas, the video reimagines the classic poem from the perspective of a busy woolly mouse experiencing Christmas for the first time.

Inside a warmly decorated house, the mouse walks past stockings, climbs a bright Christmas tree, and stops to admire a wreath hanging above a miniature fireplace.

The tone is playful and storybook-like, but the star’s appearance immediately sets it apart.

Unlike a typical laboratory mouse, it sports longer, thicker, curlier fur that is reminiscent of features once found on prehistoric woolly mammoths.

The video builds on this contrast, merging warm visuals with scientific wonder before ending with a joyful message to viewers: “From Colossal’s laboratory to your winter nights, happy holidays to all…and to all the woolly mice.”

Delivered alongside an updated holiday song from Colossal, the video transforms a complex scientific achievement into something accessible, charming, and surprisingly moving.

Behind the festive visuals lies one of the most talked about stages of Colossal.

Earlier this year, the company presented the woolly mouse as proof of its ambitious mission to restore features of the long-extinct woolly mammoth.

Although there has never been a historical woolly mouse, researchers intentionally chose mice for their convenience and speed.

Elephants, the mammoth’s closest living relatives, have a gestation period of 22 months and take years to mature, making them impractical for early testing.

Mice, on the other hand, have a gestation period of about 20 days, allowing scientists to quickly study how specific genes translate into physical traits.

“I’m excited,” said Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief scientist. PEOPLE in an exclusive interview in March.

She described the mouse as “really our first validation” that the company can successfully create living animals with genetic traits inspired by mammoths.

“This is the first time we have succeeded,” she added.

The woolly mouse was engineered with multiple cold-adapted traits using orthologs of the mammoth gene.

These include curlier hair similar in color to mammoth remains found in permafrost, as well as genes related to fat metabolism.

Together, these traits reflect adaptations that once allowed mammoths to survive in frigid, resource-scarce environments.

During his March interview, Shapiro explained that researchers would continue to observe the mice to see if they are “actually happier in cooler environments,” as expected.

According to a spokesperson, the woolly mice are “thriving and doing well,” a reassuring update for scientists and fans who have been following the project closely.

For Colossal, the woolly mouse represents much more than a seasonal novelty.

This is a controlled demonstration of how genotype can influence phenotype, ensuring that similar techniques could eventually be applied to larger, more complex animals.

Colossal’s ability to capture the public’s attention goes beyond genetic engineering.

The company is known for combining cutting-edge science with pop culture-friendly storytelling that invites curiosity rather than intimidation.

The woolly mouse Christmas video is a clear example of this approach, turning a lab success story into a narrative moment that people want to share.

Ben Lamm, co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, highlighted the broader implications in an exclusive conversation with The Blast, saying: “The woolly mouse is an early demonstration of what is possible when advanced genetic engineering is thoughtfully applied. Although small in size, the implications for conservation research and de-extinction science are substantial.”

This philosophy has guided several of the company’s recent public moments.

The event featured a dog-friendly cake and a music video written by Emmy Award-winning musicians Stan Bush and Lenny Macaluso.