A Harvard University Team successfully inserted mammoth DNA into the genetic code of an elephant in a project led by Harvard genetics professor George Church. “We priorotized genes associated with cold resistance including hairiness, ear size, subcutaneous fat and, especially hemoglobin,” Church told the Sunday Times of his hybrid elephant that includes the best features of modern elephants and the best features of mammoths.

Some scientists are against the project. “Why bring back another elephantid from extinction when we cannot even keep the ones that are not extinct around? What is the message?”

Church has yet to publish his findings in a journal as the research project is still ongoing. The conclusions are yet to be announced.