Poll: Should we bring back woolly mammoths?

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Colossal scientists just created "woolly mice" in another step towards their ultimate goal of resurrecting woolly mammoths. But should we be tinkering with extinct species? Take our poll and have your say.

Digitized image of a woolly mammoth
Woolly mammoths went extinct around 4,000 years ago. Is it time to bring them back? (Image credit: VICTOR HABBICK VISIONS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY - Getty Images)

Biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences unveiled images and footage of "woolly mice" on Tuesday (March 4), with fur similar to the thick hair that kept woolly mammoths warm during the last ice age.

Want to know more?

—Mammoth quiz: Test your knowledge of the ice age beasts

—Facts about woolly mammoths, the extinct, shaggy beasts that once roamed the Arctic

—'Closer than people think': Woolly mammoth 'de-extinction' is nearing reality — and we have no idea what happens next

Colossal scientists used mice because their shorter gestation period makes it much easier to test the gene edits and engineering tools needed to do the same procedure on elephants, in the hope that one day they could "resurrect" woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius).

But is this something we should even be doing? Take our poll and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Alexander McNamara
Alexander McNamara
Editor-in-Chief, Live Science

Alexander McNamara is the Editor-in-Chief at Live Science, and has more than 15 years’ experience in publishing at digital titles. Before Live Science, he had editor roles at New Scientist and BBC Science Focus.

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