Gaby
A Texas-based firm, Colossal Biosciences, says it has a breakthrough in biotechnology and genetic engineering. The team plans to bring the woolly mammoth—and other long-extinct species—back to life. Valued at $10.2 billion, the company says the world could see revived woolly mammoths by 2028. In its latest investment round, Colossal raised $200 million, bringing total funding since its 2021 launch to $435 million. CEO and founder Ben Lamm says that with this investment, the first woolly mammoth calves could be born within a few years, and that the money will let the company expand its team and develop new technologies.
So, where are they in the revival process? The company’s researchers have already decoded the woolly mammoth genome and developed a way to obtain stem cells from Asian elephants—cells that can become many different tissue types. Those are two crucial steps toward reviving the species. The next step is gene editing: adding mammoth genes to elephant DNA, as reported by the Daily Mail. Lamm describes the process as a “Jurassic Park in reverse.” In the film, scientists reconstruct dinosaurs by extracting ancient DNA from amber and filling gaps with frog genes.
Hybrid elephant–mammoth DNA could be used to create pluripotent stem cells—cells that can become any tissue. The scientists hope to turn those cells into sperm, eggs, or viable embryos carrying the genetic blueprint of a mammoth. The plan is to implant those bioengineered embryos into female Asian elephants, which would carry them to term and give birth to woolly mammoth calves.
Colossal also plans similar projects for other extinct animals, like the dodo, the Tasmanian tiger, and the Pyrenean ibex. Because those species reproduce much faster than woolly mammoths, Lamm says they could be brought back sooner. For possible reintroduction sites for mammoths, the company has had preliminary talks with northern U.S. states—including Alaska—and with Canadian authorities.
Critics warn that reintroducing a long-extinct species could disrupt modern ecosystems. Because no one has released an extinct ancient species back into the wild, the consequences are unknown. Lamm says he isn’t worried. “We can look at indirect examples of wildlife restoration and see how they work,” he said, pointing to the reintroduction of bison in Yellowstone. Some studies find that bringing back local megafauna can improve biodiversity. Based on those results, Lamm thinks mammoths could have a similar positive effect. “We are confident that a more diverse ecosystem is the best ecosystem,” he added.
