Colossal Biosciences: De-Extinction, Conservation, and the Future of Biodiversity
"Reversing some of the sins of the past." — Ben Lamm, CEO
Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company founded in 2021, is pursuing multiple high-profile projects to revive extinct species and preserve endangered wildlife. The company has announced progress on de-extinction efforts for the woolly mammoth, bluebuck, and dire wolf, alongside the establishment of a biobank for endangered species in Dubai. These initiatives have generated significant scientific discussion regarding the technical and ethical implications of de-extinction.
De-Extinction Projects
Woolly Mammoth
Colossal aims to produce a mammoth-like elephant by 2028. Scientists are extracting and analyzing ancient DNA from mammoth remains—including tusks recovered from Siberian permafrost—and comparing it to the genome of the Asian elephant, the mammoth's closest living relative. The team is using gene-editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 to modify Asian elephant DNA to express traits associated with woolly mammoths, including thick fur, smaller ears, and fat deposits.
The company has created "woolly mice" by altering seven genes related to hair length, texture, color, and fat metabolism. According to Colossal, these mice display longer, golden, wavy coats and have shown no adverse health effects, with the modifications proving heritable. This project served as a validation step for targeting genes related to the woolly coat trait.
After gene editing, Colossal plans to use somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) to create embryos, which would be transferred into surrogate female Asian elephants. The company acquired ViaGen in 2025 to enhance its cloning expertise. Colossal anticipates the birth of its first mammoth-like calves by 2028.
Dire Wolf
Colossal announced it has created three wolves—two males and one female—named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. These animals were produced using ancient DNA, cloning, and gene-editing technology on gray wolf DNA. Experts have noted that the created wolves are genetically modified gray wolves designed to resemble dire wolves, rather than true genetic copies of the extinct species.
Bluebuck (Blue Antelope)
Colossal announced that it has been working on resurrecting the bluebuck, an antelope species that went extinct approximately 200 years ago. The bluebuck is the only large African mammal known to have gone extinct in recorded history, with causes attributed to colonial-era hunting, habitat loss, and competition with livestock.
The company extracted DNA from a bluebuck specimen at the Swedish Museum of Natural History to sequence its genome. The sable and roan antelope are the bluebuck's closest genetic relatives; Colossal is using roan antelope as a cellular surrogate. The company reported two world firsts for roan antelopes: successful ovum pickup (OPU) for egg collection and creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Colossal acquired roan antelopes to serve as surrogate mothers for laboratory-grown embryos.
Colossal CEO Ben Lamm stated the goal is to produce a specimen within the coming years. The company plans to collaborate with conservationists, private landowners, government stakeholders, and educators for reintroduction, likely within the bluebuck's historic range in Southern Africa.
Biovault and Conservation Initiatives
Colossal Biovault in Dubai
Colossal announced the establishment of a biovault for endangered species in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The facility, to be known as the Colossal Biovault and World Preservation Lab, will be located inside Dubai's Museum of the Future. It is designed to store millions of frozen tissue and other biological samples from 10,000 species, with a focus on the 100 most endangered species globally and within the UAE.
Colossal intends to use stored samples for research on endangered species and as a method to potentially revive species should they become extinct. Co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm compared the biovault to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The company's objective is to store multiple samples of each species to maintain genetic diversity.
The biovault is not the only such facility globally. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's "Frozen Zoo," founded in 1975, contains samples from over 1,300 species and subspecies. Genetic material from this facility has been used to create clones of four endangered species: Przewalski's horse, the Indian gaur, banteng cattle, and the black-footed ferret. The charity Frozen Ark has collected 48,000 samples across multiple sites in the UK.
"Cryopreservation of living cells represents an unprecedented opportunity and urgent necessity for ensuring the future of Earth's biological diversity." — San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance emphasized that such efforts require collaboration, regulatory frameworks, long-term governance, and coordination across political boundaries.
Colossal Foundation
Colossal established the Colossal Foundation, which the company states funds over 40 conservation projects globally.
Company Background and Funding
Colossal was founded in 2021 by Ben Lamm and Harvard geneticist George Church. The company is privately held. It has raised $615 million since its founding, including $555 million by September 2025 and a $60 million investment from the UAE. The company was valued at $10 billion in early 2025.
The company has spun off two companies: Breaking, Inc., focused on plastic-degrading microbes, and Form Bio Inc., which licenses genetic analysis software.
Scientific and Ethical Discussion
Scientific Criticism
These projects have generated significant scientific debate. Some critics, including paleogeneticist Nic Rawlence, argue that a genetically modified elephant would not be a true mammoth but an elephant with mammoth traits, stating that "extinction is still forever." Similarly, experts have clarified that the dire wolves are hybrids of a dire wolf and gray wolf. Professor Dusko Ilic of King's College London has argued that such projects produce "synthetic proxies" rather than true de-extinctions, as learned behaviors and ecological niches cannot be recreated.
Dr. David Mallon, a visiting professor at Manchester Metropolitan University and emeritus chair of the antelope specialist group at IUCN, described the bluebuck project as "an extremely interesting development" but questioned its value for conservation priorities, suggesting funds might be better spent on preventing extinctions.
Biologist Jeanne Loring expressed concern about unforeseen catastrophic outcomes. Some critics have accused the company of exaggerating possibilities to secure funding.
Company Responses
CEO Ben Lamm stated that de-extinction efforts would be "reversing some of the sins of the past" and that it is "unethical not to do this," citing humanity's role in the demise of many extinct species. Chief science officer Beth Shapiro stated the bluebuck's extinction is "our fault" and that technology exists to reverse it.
Colossal maintains that their resurrected animals will function ecologically as the extinct species did, aiding in ecosystem restoration (e.g., mammoths preserving permafrost to combat global warming). They argue that the developed genetic technologies are crucial for saving existing endangered species.