A huge step towards recreating the woolly mammoth has been taken by scientists who inserted more than a dozen of its genes into the live DNA of an elephant . Researchers studied the structure of DNA from mammoths preserved in the Arctic to reproduce exact copies of 14 of the extinct animal ’ s genes . These were then integrated by experts at Harvard University in Massachusetts into the elephant genome - and functioned as normal DNA . Scroll down for video . Recreation : Researchers studied the structure of DNA from woolly mammoths ( file illustration ) preserved in the Arctic to reproduce exact copies of 14 of the extinct animal ’ s genes . A new method known as 'Crispr ' - helping scientists make accurate changes to DNA - was used by genetics professor George Church , who replaced parts of elephant DNA with the mammoth genes . He said : ‘ We prioritised genes associated with cold resistance including hairiness , ear size , subcutaneous fat and , especially , haemoglobin ( the protein that carries oxygen around the body ) . ’ ‘ De-extinction ’ enthusiast Mr Church , who was speaking to The Sunday Times science editor Jonathan Leake , added : ‘ We now have functioning elephant cells with mammoth DNA in them. ’ Mammoths co-existed with early humans who hunted them for food . Comparison : The mammoth was roughly the size as a modern African elephant , standing up to 11ft tall . They are the best studied of all prehistoric animals thanks to the discovery of frozen carcasses , as well as dung and skeletons . The mammoth was roughly the size as a modern African elephant , standing up to 11ft tall and weighing about seven tonnes , and its fur and long hair protected it from severe winters . There are at least three teams trying to rebuild the whole mammoth genome - which could one day become a template to recreate actual mammoths , reported The Sunday Times . But ancient DNA expert Professor Alex Greenwood said : ‘ Money would be better spent focusing on conserving what we do have - than spending it on an animal that has been extinct for thousands of years. ’ Last week , MailOnline reported how scientists had begun extracting DNA from the remains of a mammoth found in Siberia , taking bone marrow samples from its front left leg . The samples will be examined at a laboratory in Yakutsk , Russia , and by scientists in South Korea - with the hope of one day being able to clone one of the prehistoric animals .
Scientists study structure of DNA from mammoths preserved in Arctic . Exact copies of more than a dozen of animal 's genes integrated into elephant genome . New method 'Crispr ' helps researchers make accurate changes to DNA .