A Texas-based company, Colossal Biosciences, has announced a groundbreaking scientific breakthrough in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering. This team of like-minded individuals aims to bring the woolly mammoth and other long-extinct species back to life. Valued at $10.2 billion, the company has promised that the world will see revived woolly mammoths by 2028. Researchers at Colossal Biosciences have secured $200 million in funding for the project in their latest investment round, bringing the total funding since its launch in 2021 to $435 million. Ben Lamm, the CEO and founder of Colossal Biosciences, is confident that with this investment, the first woolly mammoth calves could be born within a few years. He stated that the funding will allow them to expand their team and develop new technologies.
So, what stage are they at in the mammoth revival process? The company’s researchers have already decoded the woolly mammoth genome and discovered a method to obtain stem cells from the Asian elephant, which will give rise to several different cell types. These are two crucial steps toward resurrecting the extinct species. Currently, scientists need to conduct gene editing to add the target mammoth genes to the elephant’s DNA, as reported by the Daily Mail. According to Lamm, to understand how the resurrection of the mammoth works, one should envision the process as a “Jurassic Park in reverse.” In the movies, scientists resurrect dinosaurs by extracting ancient DNA frozen in amber and then use frog genes to patch the gaps in the dinosaur’s DNA.
The hybrid DNA of the elephant and mammoth can be used to create “pluripotent stem cells,” a type of cell that has the potential to become any type of tissue. Theoretically, the project’s scientists aim to transform these cells into sperm, eggs, or even viable embryos containing the genetic blueprint necessary to develop into a mammoth. The team plans to implant these bioengineered embryos into female Asian elephants, which will carry them to term and ultimately give birth to woolly mammoth calves.
Colossal Biosciences intends to do the same with other extinct species, such as the dodo bird, the Tasmanian tiger, and the Pyrenean ibex. Since these species reproduce much faster than woolly mammoths, we may likely see their return before the revived hairy mammals with tusks make their debut, according to Lamm. Regarding potential reintroduction sites for the woolly mammoths, he mentioned that the company has held preliminary discussions with northern U.S. states, including Alaska, as well as Canada.
Critics monitoring the research believe that bringing a long-extinct species back into the modern environment poses risks, arguing that it could disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Since no one has ever reintroduced an extinct ancient species into the wild, the consequences remain unknown. However, the project leader asserts that he is not concerned about the risks associated with the re-emergence of large extinct mammals. “I think we can look at indirect examples of wildlife restoration and see how they work,” Lamm noted, recalling the reintroduction of bison into Yellowstone National Park. Studies have shown that reintroducing local megafauna leads to sustainable improvements in biodiversity. Based on these encouraging results, Lamm believes that the return of woolly mammoths will likely have a similar positive effect. “We are confident that a more diverse ecosystem is the best ecosystem,” he said.