Extinction is usually forever, but science is flipping the script!

The woolly mammoth has been extinct for 4,000 years, but its DNA is now alive and thrivin in mice! Scientists at Colossal Biosciences have pulled off something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Using advanced gene-editing techniques, they've created mice with mammoth-like traits—like long, wavy fur and cold-adapted fat metabolism. These traits helped mammoths survive the Ice Age, and now they’re showing up in tiny lab mice.

Colossal has been working on this since 2021. Researchers retrieved and sequenced ancient mammoth DNA from preserved skin, bone and hair to learn which genes controlled traits such as coat color and cold tolerance. Then, using tools like CRISPR, they edited those genes into mouse embryos. The result? Mice with a little bit of mammoth magic!

But this isn't just about creating cool, furry mice. Colossal's ultimate goal is to bring the woolly mammoth itself back to life by 2028. They believe that reintroducing mammoths could help restore Arctic ecosystems, like preventing permafrost from melting by promoting grassland growth.

Of course, not everyone is on board. Critics are raising big questions: Is it ethical to bring back extinct species? Will they thrive in today's environment? And could this have unintended consequences for ecosystems?

What do you think? Should we bring back the woolly mammoth? Or should we let the past stay in the past? Let's debate in the comments!