Can We Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth? Scientists Are One Step Closer with Woolly Mice

Imagine walking through the Arctic tundra and spotting a real, living woolly mammoth. It sounds like something straight out of Jurassic Park, but scientists are actually working to make it happen. And their latest breakthrough? Creating "woolly mice", tiny creatures with genetic traits borrowed from the prehistoric giants.

This experiment is more than just a scientific curiosity. It’s a major step toward bringing back the woolly mammoth, and it raises big questions: Is de-extinction really possible? Should we even try?

How Scientists Engineered Woolly Mice

A team of researchers from Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company focused on de-extinction, recently announced that they successfully edited mouse DNA to include genes from the woolly mammoth. These genes are responsible for the mammoth’s thick fur and ability to survive in freezing temperatures.

Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR, scientists made precise changes to mouse embryos, and when the mice were born, they had a visible difference: thicker, woollier fur than normal.

This experiment is a huge deal because it proves that we can transfer important traits from extinct species into living animals. And if it works for mice, scientists believe it could work for elephants, bringing us one step closer to a modern-day woolly mammoth.

Why Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth?

Bringing back the mammoth isn’t just about reviving a lost species for fun. Scientists argue that reintroducing mammoths to the Arctic could actually help slow down climate change.

Here’s how:

Mammoths once played a key role in maintaining grasslands in the Arctic by knocking over trees and stomping down the snow.

If they return, they could help restore these ecosystems, which would keep the ground frozen and prevent greenhouse gases from escaping into the atmosphere.


George Church, a Harvard geneticist and one of the pioneers of this project, believes that woolly mammoths could

“help combat climate change by transforming tundra into grasslands.”

Is This Even Possible?

While the woolly mice experiment is promising, bringing back a full-sized mammoth is a much bigger challenge.

Scientists plan to take elephant embryos and modify their DNA to include mammoth genes. If successful, these embryos could be implanted into an elephant mother (or even grown in an artificial womb). The goal? To have the first woolly mammoth calf born by 2028.

But it’s not just about making a mammoth, it’s about making one that can survive and thrive in today’s world.

The Debate: Should We Really Do This?

Not everyone is on board with the idea of de-extinction. Critics argue that:

The money and effort spent on bringing back extinct species could be used to protect endangered animals instead.

We don’t know how a mammoth would fit into today’s ecosystem—it could disrupt nature in unexpected ways.

Once people believe extinction is "reversible," it might make them care less about saving animals that are dying out today.


Christopher Preston, an environmental ethics professor, warns that

“de-extinction sounds exciting, but it shouldn’t distract us from protecting species that are still alive.”

What’s Next?

Despite the controversy, research is moving forward. The woolly mice experiment proves that scientists are getting closer to making de-extinction a reality. If successful, we could see a living, breathing woolly mammoth in the next decade.

Whether that’s a scientific triumph or a risky experiment, only time will tell.

What do you think?

Would you love to see a woolly mammoth in real life, or do you think we should focus on protecting the animals we still have? Let’s discuss!