Colossal’s Woolly Mouse Makes His First Christmas Extra Cozy (PEOPLE Exclusive)

Colossal Biosciences released a festive short film, exclusively shared with PEOPLE, starring the company’s woolly mouse as he experiences his first holiday season. The video reimagines “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” following the tiny hero through a cozy, decorated home while lightly explaining the science behind his longer, thicker, curlier, cold-adapted coat. The woolly mouse was engineered using mammoth gene orthologs tied to hair and metabolism that link specific genetic edits to visible traits. According to Colossal, the mice are thriving and continue to inform research into cold-adapted biology that underpins the company’s broader de-extinction work. The short closes with warm wishes and a reminder that rigorous science can be joyful, too.

Read the full feature on People.