Colossal Biosciences: The Ultimate Science of De-extinction

The Extinction Problem

The diversity of the species on this planet is standing at a history-breaking climax that has never been equaled. More species are disappearing than ever before in recorded history. In the last 500 years alone, 869 species have been driven to extinction by human beings. Right now, as many as 16,928 species of plants and animals are known to be threatened with extinction.

The De-extinction Solution

Yet, at the same time, thanks to recent scientific advances in genetic engineering, we might be able to bring back once extinct species.

One company, Colossal Biosciences is doing just that with what can be called a potential “de-extinction solution”. They say they are getting closer to bringing back the dodo Bird, the Thylacine, and even the Woolly Mammoth.

These were a keystone species, and Colossal Biosciences says that using genetic engineering to bring them back could restore entire ecosystems.

What is Colossal Biosciences?

Colossal Biosciences is a biotechnology and genetic engineering company that is focused on de-extinction projects to bring back extinct species. Many extinct species have had a beneficial impact on ecosystems. Colossal claims that bringing them back could greatly help the Earth by curbing extinction and helping strengthen ecosystems.

According to their website, “Through technological and engineering breakthroughs in biosciences and genetics, Colossal is accepting humanity’s duty to restore Earth to a healthier state, while also solving for the future economies and biological necessities of the human condition.”

According to Business Wire, Colossal Biosciences has raised $225 million in funding to put towards their efforts.

Who Founded Colossal Biosciences

Colossal Biosciences was founded by Scientist Dr. George Church and entrepreneur Ben Lamm.

Dr. George Church is a leading scientist in synthetic biology at Harvard University. He is best known for developing the first genomic sequencing method and helping initiate the Human Genome Project—an undertaking to study and map human DNA.

Ben Lamm is a dynamic entrepreneur who has served as CEO of multiple companies that focused on everything from AI in space to marketing and video games.

When Was Colossal Biosciences Founded?

Colossal Biosciences officially opened its doors in 2021 after Dr. George Church and Ben Lamm started discussing the possibility of a de-extinction project.

Two years prior, Dr. Church and Ben Lamm got together for the first time. At that time, Lamm had been the CEO of another company he had founded called Hypergiant. This company’s focus was on aerospace and the military. As part of his work there, he’d been working on a small device that develops algae that can clean as much air as an acre of trees.

It was during this conversation that Dr. Church and Ben started discussing a colossal undertaking.

Where is Colossal Biosciences Located?

Colossal Biosciences has four main locations: Melbourne, Boston, Massachusetts, and Dallas. The company has a lab in Harvard University and another across the globe at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

The Colossal De-extinction Project

De-extinction is a process of creating a hybrid animal using genes from an animal that is similar to the extinct one. The traits these animals display are similar to the extinct species, and are specifically selected by scientists.

In other words, a de-extinct animal will be neither the living species nor the lost one. It will be a scientifically designed combination of the two.

This is a pretty startling thing to think about. It could be incredible to see something like a Woolly Mammoth walking around.

However, Colossal Biosciences has a much more profound reason for their huge undertaking.

Why De-Extinction?

Colossal Biosciences is using de-extinction to fill gaps in ecosystems long vacated by lost species to heal the world.

Every species plays a distinct role in its ecosystem. The natural world is very intertwined in a never-ending series of food chains and cycles. Everything impacts everything else.

When a species is removed from its environment, the impact can be very profound. So much so that people are creating shoes that help play the role that many of these important species fill—like the rewilding shoes.

Plants and animals that relied on the lost species can experience many problems. Overpopulation, a decrease in numbers, or even extinction can result from the loss. The quality of soil, air, and water can be impacted and even downgraded.

Colossal Biosciences believes they can reverse the damage. All they have to do is reintroduce these lost creatures to the ecosystems they left behind. The right animals can restart processes and habits long neglected. Habitats can be returned to an earlier and healthier state, and entire ecosystems formed.

The Process of De-extinction

De-extinction has made some real progress, but some challenges still remain. This makes de-extinction mostly conceptual. Regardless, the process of de-extinction is something that can be broken down into steps.

• Finding Well-Preserved Specimens of the Extinct Animal: The longer a species has been dead, the more degraded its DNA. Frozen tundra and museum samples are often the best sources of DNA for many animals.
• Sequence the Genes from the Extinct Species: Scientists use gene sequencing to compare the DNA of an extinct species to its closest living relative. This identifies the key differences that need to be altered to potentially bring the extinct animal back.
• Find the Closest Living Relative and Sequence its Genes: The genes of the lost animals are then combined with those of a living species to create offspring.
• Gene Editing: Once both sets of DNA have been sequenced, they must be combined or edited. Scientists will take the traits they need from the extinct species and insert them into the DNA of the living species. They will handpick the traits they need in order for the species to help regenerate the ecosystem.
• Create the Embryos: In the case of a mammal, the nucleus containing the DNA will be inserted into the egg, or ova. The egg will then be united with a sperm and implanted into the surrogate mother’s womb. For the bird, edited DNA will be injected directly into the surrogate mother so it can be transferred into the eggs that she lays.
• Birth or Hatching: The surrogate mother will be cared for until the baby is born, or the egg is laid and hatched. What emerges will be an animal that looks and behaves like its ancestors, but which is actually a combination of the extinct and the living species. It will contain all the traits necessary to replenish the earth.

The animals selected for De-extinction by Colossal Biosciences are the Woolly Mammoth, the Thylacine, and the Dodo Bird.

Colossal Woolly Mammoth

Height	6 to 12 Feet
Weight	Up to 6 tons
Extinction Date	Approximately 4000 years ago
Appearance	Resembles elephant with smaller ears. Two layers of fur, humpback, long truck, and stocky build.

There are a few good reasons that Colossal Biosciences has chosen the Woolly Mammoth as one of its first projects.

Woolly Mammoths frozen in the Siberian tundra have often been so well-preserved that they almost looked like they were ready to get up and walk away. For this long gone species, surviving DNA is plentiful.

They also have a living relative that is already their exact clone. The Asian elephant’s DNA sequence is a 99.6% match to that of the Woolly Mammoth. That remaining 4% is still a pretty big hurdle for the scientists at Colossal Biosciences. However, the huge percentage still in place puts them way ahead of the game.

Why Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth?

The Woolly Mammoth lived in an ancient ecosystem called the Mammoth Steppe. Nearly 1600 billion metric tons of carbon are stored in the permafrost that comprises what’s left of the Steppe. Bringing back the Woolly Mammoth would bring back the Steppe, and this could help reduce global warming.

The Mammoth kept these ecosystems alive by trampling down bushes and pushing back trees. They also fertilized the grass with their droppings.

Colossal Biosciences lists 10 goals they expect will be achieved by bringing back the Woolly Mammoth.

·       Slow down the melting of the permafrost.

·       Prevent the escape of carbon trapped in the permafrost.

·       Restore the lost grasslands of the Mammoth Steppe.

·       Restore the Mammoth Steppe to its former, healthier condition.

·       Return the Mammoth Steppe to an ecosystem to defend the Earth against climate change.

·       Better understand the genetic traits of cold-resistant animals.

·       Save modern elephants from extinction.

·       Prove a link between genetics and climate change.

·       Equip Nature to resist the damaging impact of human activity.

·       Drive advancements in genetic editing.

Final Result: The Mammophant

The resulting hybrid creature is already being called a Mammophant. It will be part elephant, but it will also have the traits that made the mammoth the king of the frozen tundra. This will include the thick fur and extra layers of fat tissue.

It will also be big and powerful enough to carry on the work the mammoths left behind. This includes clearing the grasslands and, hopefully, returning them to their original healthy state. The grasslands, in turn, should provide a much-needed opportunity to manage the global warming problem.

Colossal Thylacine:

The Thylacine is an animal of many names. It has been known also as a Tasmanian Wolf or a Tasmanian Tiger, although it’s neither canine nor feline. It’s a marsupial that once lived on Tasmania, an Island off the Southern Coast of Australia.

Height	20” to 27”
Weight	35 to 65 lbs.
Date of Extinction	1936
General Appearance	looks like a cross between a coyote and a tiger. Brown with stripes. Narrow, pointed face and long tail.

How did the Thylacine Go Extinct?

Their story is a tragic one. Through exaggeration and wild tales, the Thylacine developed a reputation for being a fierce predator. It was mistakenly regarded as a huge threat to local sheep farmers on the Island. None of this was true. They mostly ate rodents, lizards, and birds.

The Islanders became determined to defend themselves against this falsely accused menace. At one time, the government even offered a bounty of one pound for each Thylacine killed. Farmers and hunters were more than happy to collect.

The last thylacine died in a zoo in 1936 having lived its last years in solitude and neglect.

Why Bring Back the Thylacine?

The Thylacine was an apex species. This means it was at the top of the food chain in its ecosystem. It played a key role in keeping the populations of other species balanced. When the thylacine went extinct, every animal beneath it on the food chain was impacted, which created a cascading effect called trophic downgrading. Scientists at Colossal Biosciences believe that a reintroduced the Thylacine can end trophic downgrading. Tropic downgrading causes a variety of negative consequence:

·       Increased occurrences of devastating diseases.

·       Increase in the number of wildfires.

·       Decrease in the amount of carbon stored.

·       Introduction of more potentially damaging invasive species.

·       Interruption of the cycles which distribute chemicals and compounds throughout the ecosystem.

Of the three species being brought back first, the Thylacine is the one that’s been gone for the least amount of time. Plenty of embryos and young Thylacines were preserved before they disappeared. So, there’s plenty of intact DNA at hand.

The closest living relative to the Thylacine is a little mouse-like critter called the Fat-Tailed Dunnart. Its DNA is 95% identical to that of the Thylacine. This animal has a strong population and a conservation status of “least concern”. That means there are plenty of specimens and a large supply of living DNA for Colossal Biosciences to work with.

Final Result: The Thylanart

This hybrid doesn’t have an official name, yet. In the tradition of mixing parental names, it could be called a “Thylanart”. This animal, although it will be made from a creature the size of a mouse, will still grow to be as big as a small dog. It will also bear the traits that allowed its ancestor to be an apex animal and can rebalance the Tasmanian ecosystem to its former, natural state.

Colossal: Dodo Bird

The dodo, the only bird in Colossal Biosciences’ initial species index, is something of an iconic symbol for extinct species. It was a large, flightless bird that lived on tiny Mauritius Island which lies off the east coast of Madagascar, the famous Island of Africa.

Height	32” to 38”
Weight	20 to 50 lbs.
Date of Extinction	Approximately 1662 – 1690
Appearance	Thick, curved beak. Course, brownish-gray feathers, and feet.

How did the Dodo Bird Go Extinct?

When humans started to colonize Mauritius Island in the 1500s, the dodo’s future changed forever. Settlers brought with them new species of animals such as rats, pigs, goats, deer, and birds. These creatures threatened the supply of naturally existing plant species, and they developed a taste for Dodo bird eggs. This is not good news for a bird that only lays eggs once a year.

One of the most devastating problems the dodo faced, however, came in the form of hunting rifles. Local settlers developed a liking for dodo bird meat and, fast as the dodo was, it couldn’t outrun a bullet.

Why Bring Back the Dodo Bird?

“Almost a third of Mauritius’ native fruits are no longer being dispersed as no animals are big enough to swallow their seeds.”

These startling words from the Natural History Museum’s website encompass the pressing need many scientists have to bring back the dodo bird. The loss of the dodo and other species is bringing this tropical ecosystem to its knees. Little by little, it’s disappearing simply because of the lack of a Dodo bird.

Final Result: The Docobar

This hybrid bird could be called a “Docobar” because of the mixture of dodo bird and Nicobar Pigeon DNA that it will have. The Nicobar pigeon, a brightly colored bird from India, is the Dodo bird’s closest living relative.

Colossal Biosciences aims to design the Hybrid to thrive on the dodo bird’s old stomping grounds, Mauritius Island. More than that, it should resume the activities of its ancestors such as swallowing and fertilizing seeds.

When Will the Animals Become De-extinct?

How long until the world can expect to see “Mammophants” thundering across the Arctic or to watch the first “Docobar” push its way out of its shell?

Of course, Colossal Biosciences can’t provide a precise birthdate for the world’s first resurrected hybrid animals. However, they’ve given their best estimates.

Woolly Mammoth – 2027-2028: Colossal is pushing hard for the Woolly Mammoth Hybrid to be the first revived. In early 2023, Colossal Biosciences raised an additional $60 million in funding specifically for this project.

Thylacine – 2028: Scientists believe the Hybrid Thylacine won’t be far behind the Woolly Mammoth. They’ve given it a projected birth date of as early as 2028. Marsupials have a much faster gestation rate than most other mammals. This could mean we see them sooner than the Mammoth.

Dodo Bird – Unknown: The dodo bird’s revival is very complicated and challenging due to a lower selection of viable DNA samples. As well, their closest living relative isn’t a closely related as scientists would like. Although new techniques are being developed, it’s not known when there might be a fertilized egg.

De-extinction is becoming a more popular topic of conversation, especially with Colossal Biosciences gaining popularity. It’s a new and strange idea once only possible in the realm of fantasy, and the world is still trying to make sense of it. It could be the miracle the environment needs, or it could be a big mistake.

The Pros of De-Extinction:

There are plenty of arguments as to why de-extinction could be a welcome new phase in our natural history.

• Knowledge: Continued work on the de-extinction project brings new knowledge of DNA and genetics. This new understanding could help us in ways we can’t imagine.
• Environmental Health: The resurrected animals could help us bring the planet back to a state of health not seen in a long time.
• Justice: Humans created the mess that the planet currently finds itself in. It’s only fair and right that humans figure out how to fix it.
• Curiosity: There’s just a certain awe that comes with the prospect of seeing a species never before seen alive.

The Cons of De-Extinction:

At the same time, there are lots of reasons for scientists to proceed with plenty of caution. Colossal biosciences will have to consider the following:

• Animal Rights: The simple fact is, that animals can’t tell us if this is something they want or not. Injury or illness could be caused by inevitable trials and errors.
• Viruses: There is a risk that resurrected genes could also bring back viruses and diseases the world is not prepared for.
• Environmental Health: Scientists can’t be 100% sure how these hybrids will impact the ecosystems they inhabit.
• Political Focus: The introduction of de-extinct species could take attention and resources away from other issues. Current endangered species could be neglected.

The biggest question being asked, however, and the one that needs the most attention is the question of ethics.

The Ethical Debate About De-Extinction:

With all the talk of de-extinction, many people are reminded of a movie that came out in the 1990s. It involved de-extinct dinosaurs running around a tropical Island terrorizing scientists and children.

Over and over again, a thought from that movie has been resurfacing. In a nutshell, we know we can do it. The question is whether we should do it.

A big concern is that, if de-extinction became a reality, people might think there is now an infinite supply of any given species. They might become lax about conserving and protecting wildlife. Money that could be used to solve world hunger or clean up plastics pollution might, instead, go into the next hybrid animal.

Paul and Anne Erlich from the Yale School of the Environment argue in their publication that de-extinction projects— like the one Colossal Biosciences is undertaking—are a terrible idea. If scientists don’t first address problems like destructive mining practices or creating a clean energy future, questions of de-extinction won’t even matter.

The environments these extinct animals left behind have changed vastly while they’ve been away. It’s not even certain that they could survive in the world that exists today.