Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based start-up co-founded by geneticist George Church, is embarking on an ambitious mission to resurrect extinct species through gene editing. The company aims to use gene editing techniques to modify the embryos of existing animals and make them resemble extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo. It plans to create its first version of a mammoth, a gene-edited elephant embryo born to an elephant mother, by 2028.
Church, who has co-founded almost 50 companies based on his genetics lab experiments, has secured $225 million in funding for Colossal Biosciences from prominent investors like Peter Thiel, Thomas Tull, and Paris Hilton. The company has also raised additional capital by spinning off biotech software firm Form Bio.
While some people have compared Colossal’s project to Jurassic Park, Church insists that the main focus is not on endangered species. The company aims to generate revenue by licensing its technologies and developing other businesses. It also plans to collaborate with media partners to share the story of its groundbreaking project.
However, the endeavor faces significant challenges. One major hurdle is performing a large number of gene edits simultaneously, known as multiplex editing, to make the modified animals closely resemble their extinct counterparts. The second challenge is creating an artificial womb system to incubate the genetically edited embryos.
Critics question the feasibility and ecological implications of Colossal’s project. Some argue that the company is not truly resurrecting extinct animals but rather creating hybrid creatures that merely resemble the extinct species. To establish a sustainable breeding population, substantial space and genetic diversity would be necessary.
Nevertheless, Colossal remains determined to bring back woolly mammoths, in part to help restore the arctic tundra and mitigate the release of greenhouse gases. The company plans to create genetically diverse herds of mammoths and is in talks with US state governments to identify rewilding sites.
In addition to its mammoth project, Colossal is venturing into other areas of gene editing technology. It has created biotech software and is exploring joint ventures with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to develop new multiplex editing tools for treating genetic diseases.
Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the project, Colossal aims to educate and inspire by creating these near-extinct species. While the company has not yet decided on public access to the animals, it is committed to ethical considerations and emphasizes that its motives extend beyond pure vanity.
In conclusion, Colossal Biosciences is pushing the boundaries of genetic engineering and gene editing technology with its ambitious plan to bring back extinct species. The company’s quest to resurrect the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo is backed by significant funding and has garnered attention from both investors and the media. However, it faces critical challenges and skeptics who question the ecological and ethical implications of its project. Only time will tell if Colossal can successfully reshape the future by reviving the past.
