Rishika Shahi
Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology startup supported by actor Chris Hemsworth, is on a mission to revive the woolly mammoth by 2028. This ambitious endeavor aims to use cutting-edge gene-editing technologies to recreate these iconic creatures that roamed the Earth thousands of years ago. The company’s CEO, Ben Lamm, has outlined their progress and vision for de-extinction, sparking excitement and debate within the scientific community and beyond.
The Science of De-Extinction
Colossal Biosciences is employing advanced techniques like CRISPR gene editing to reconstruct the woolly mammoth’s DNA. “We are working to identify the core genes that define the woolly mammoth,” Lamm explained. This genetic work involves using the DNA of the Asian elephant, the mammoth’s closest living relative, to create a hybrid that embodies the traits of both species.
With celebrity investors like Chris Hemsworth and Paris Hilton, Colossal has raised significant capital to fuel its research. “The backing from high-profile figures helps bring attention to our mission,” Lamm noted. This influx of funding allows the company to expand its research capabilities and accelerate its timeline for bringing back extinct species.
The revived mammoth will be “more specifically a cold-resistant elephant with all of the core biological traits of the woolly mammoth,” according to a statement on the company’s website. He predicted that it will “walk like a woolly mammoth, look like one, and sound like one.”
According to the corporation, the resurgence of the mammoth will mitigate the effects of global warming. “It could help in reversing the rapid warming of the climate and more pressingly, protect the Arctic’s permafrost,” according to the business.
Timeline for Revival
Colossal aims to produce its first woolly mammoth calves by late 2028. “We are on track for this timeline,” Lamm stated confidently, emphasizing their commitment to achieving this groundbreaking milestone. The company is also exploring other species like the dodo and Tasmanian tiger, which may be revived sooner due to shorter gestation periods.
The prospect of reviving extinct species raises ethical questions about ecological balance and conservation efforts. “While we focus on de-extinction, we are also committed to conservation work,” Lamm remarked. By developing technologies for reviving lost species, Colossal hopes to contribute positively to current conservation challenges and restore ecosystems disrupted by human activity.
Mammoths have a 22-month gestation period, so if one species returns before the other, Lamm noted. “However, it is quite possible that we will witness another species before the mammoth, as the other species have much shorter gestations.” His sights are focused on an early comeback for the Tasmanian Tiger and the dodo.
Interestingly, the dodo bird was last observed in the 1600s, and the Tasmanian tiger went extinct in the early 1980s. Lamm claims that the dodo will take approximately one month to resurrect, whereas the former can be done in a matter of weeks. He thinks “it is highly likely we will have a species before 2028” and that species will be one of the three.
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