New science could see us living with dinosaurs in less than a decade.

Paleontologists think it could be possible to mutate birds back to dinosaurs.

Doctor Jack Horner, who consulted on the Jurassic Park movies, is leading genetic research that could recreate living dinosaurs.

It uses reverse evolution science that would take a chicken and reverse it back to its prehistoric roots by turning certain genes on and off.

GNS Science Paleontologist Hamish Campbell told Mike Hosking it is an aspect of curiosity in humanity that makes us want to recreate dinosaurs.

"We're incredibly curious, it we develop a tool we will explore it to the ultimate, that is what we do."

Campbell says as chickens don't have long tails, it'll be about turning on and off the gene for tail growth.

"That's messing around with the skeleton, it's just a platform for muscles, ligaments, tendons and it actually could be relatively simple."

LISTEN ABOVE AS HAMISH CAMPBELL SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING