Colossal: The Company Bringing Back Extinct Species
Colossal is a biotechnology company founded in 2021 by Harvard geneticist George Church and serial entrepreneur Ben Lamm. The company’s mission is to bring back extinct species and restore biodiversity to the planet. Colossal is using cutting-edge genetic engineering techniques to achieve this goal, and their work has the potential to revolutionize the field of conservation biology.
The idea of bringing back extinct species, known as de-extinction, has been around for several decades. However, it has only recently become feasible thanks to advances in genetic engineering technology. Colossal is at the forefront of this field, and they are focusing their efforts on bringing back the woolly mammoth.
The woolly mammoth went extinct about 4,000 years ago, but researchers have been able to extract DNA from well-preserved mammoth specimens. Colossal plans to use this DNA to create a hybrid animal that is part woolly mammoth and part Asian elephant. This hybrid, known as a “mammophant,” would have some of the characteristics of the woolly mammoth, such as a thick coat of hair and large tusks, while also being able to survive in a modern ecosystem.
Bringing back the woolly mammoth may seem like a daunting task, but Colossal has a team of world-class scientists and engineers working on the project. They are using gene editing techniques like CRISPR to modify the DNA of Asian elephant embryos to include some of the traits of the woolly mammoth. The modified embryos will then be implanted into surrogate mothers, and if everything goes according to plan, a mammophant will be born in the next few years.
While the idea of bringing back an extinct species may seem like a dream come true for some, it has also sparked controversy. Some critics argue that de-extinction is a distraction from more pressing conservation issues, such as protecting endangered species and habitats. Others worry that bringing back extinct species could have unintended consequences for ecosystems.
Despite the controversy, Colossal is moving ahead with their plans to bring back the woolly mammoth. They believe that their work could have a significant impact on the field of conservation biology, and they are also exploring other potential applications of their technology, such as using genetically modified elephants to help combat climate change.
In conclusion, Colossal is a biotechnology company that is pushing the boundaries of genetic engineering to bring back extinct species. Their work has the potential to revolutionize the field of conservation biology and restore biodiversity to the planet. While there are legitimate concerns about the ethics and practicality of de-extinction, Colossal’s efforts represent an exciting and innovative approach to conservation.
