大象传媒

It has long been the view among scientists that a "small gene pool", or lack of genetic diversity, is potentially disastrous for any species.

Now studies suggest the last woolly mammoths died out after their DNA became wracked with genetic disease.

Dr Rebekah Rogers of the University of California, Berkeley, who led the research, told Ritula Shah about the study.

(Photo: Woolly mammoths. Credit: Getty Images)