By Alyssa Gu ’28
Contrary to popular belief, woolly mammoths, the famous prehistoric behemoths, coexisted with human beings for thousands of years and only became extinct around 4,000 years ago. The possibility of bringing back woolly mammoths from extinction has become more realistic thanks to recent scientific advances and discoveries of the mammoths’ well-preserved remains.
Woolly mammoths had a profound impact on the environment during their existence in the Arctic Tundra. They prevented the spread of trees and tall plants with their heavy footsteps, allowing grasses and shorter vegetation to thrive; these grasslands were more carbon-absorbent than their forest and wetland counterparts. As a result, mammoths’ movements across the landscape maintained and promoted biodiversity.
With the extinction of woolly mammoths, the mammoth steppe that was once spread across the world, from France to the Arctic to China, spans only 5 million square miles today. Grasslands have become areas of trees and shrubs, limiting their ability to absorb carbon. As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing concern, scientists are exploring ways to restore these ecosystems, one of which includes the resurrection of species such as the woolly mammoth.
In March 2025, the Texas-based company Colossal Biosciences achieved what could be a significant step toward reviving the woolly mammoth. Through CRISPR genome editing, Colossal was able to create 38 woolly mice with long and golden hair. Their goal was to determine the efficacy of targeted gene editing for recreating traits of extinct species.
Researchers examined mammoth DNA and identified genes responsible for the animal’s thick fur, long tusks, and slow metabolism that gave it increased cold resistance. To confirm that the gene sequences were accurate, they analyzed multiple biological samples. Colossal then searched for similar genes in mice and edited them to match those mammoth characteristics. None of the 38 mice experienced adverse side effects, though the mice were intended to be a model in Colossal’s research, rather than kept for an extended duration. The next phase of their study involves genetically modifying Asian and African elephant embryos, the woolly mammoths’ closest living relatives, and gestating them by surrogate elephant mothers.
The long-term objective of the company includes not just reviving the woolly mammoth, but also the potential de-extinction of other species like the dodo bird and Tasmanian tiger. The same technology could also be employed in the preservation of threatened megafauna, such as elephants, by forming genetic defenses against extinction.
However, despite its scientific promise, the project has prompted several ethical concerns. Critics contend that human intervention in the natural evolutionary processes has both moral and ecological risks. Some proponents insist that reintroducing species could risk disrupting ecosystems that have since evolved in their absence. Colossal Biosciences responds that the rapid rate of environmental change, primarily driven by human activity, could render it impossible for many species to continue adapting fast enough for survival.
The use of genetic technologies to restore and preserve biodiversity may become an essential tool in conservation efforts. Considering recent advancements in genetic engineering, it may soon be possible to revive extinct species and help restore damaged ecosystems. While numerous scientific and ethical issues remain to be addressed, initiatives such as those of Colossal’s could herald a new era in conservation. The task at hand is striking the right balance between innovation and responsibility as we brave the frontiers of futuristic wildlife protection.
