Colossal Biosciences

Colossal Biosciences was founded in 2021 by Ben Lamm and George Church, the latter a prominent Harvard genetics professor known for pioneering contributions to genome sequencing and editing technology, pursuing an ambitious and scientifically debated goal of "de-extincting" species that have gone extinct, most prominently the woolly mammoth, by using CRISPR gene editing technology to modify the genome of a closely related living species, such as the Asian elephant in the mammoth's case, to express key ancestral traits, an approach the company frames as creating a functional proxy for the extinct species rather than a perfect genetic clone. Colossal has expanded its de-extinction ambitions beyond the woolly mammoth to include the dodo bird and the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, a marsupial predator that went extinct in the 20th century, while also developing and commercializing genetic technologies with applications in conservation biology for still-living endangered species, positioning much of its underlying gene editing and reproductive technology as having conservation value independent of its more headline-grabbing de-extinction goals. The company drew significant public attention in 2025 when it announced the creation of genetically modified wolf pups exhibiting some physical traits associated with the extinct dire wolf, a claim that drew both excitement and considerable scientific skepticism regarding how meaningfully the modified animals actually represented a genuine dire wolf given the significant evolutionary distance between the two species. Colossal has raised very substantial venture funding from investors including Thomas Tull and various other high-profile individual investors, reaching a valuation exceeding $10 billion.

News

10/24/2026

Warhound Secures $200 Million to Clone Military Superdogs

Warhound, co-founded by Colossal Biosciences, aims to enhance military dog performance through cloning and genetic modification, despite facing ethical and scientific challenges.

Scientific American

10/19/2026

Colossal Acquires Rare Moa Egg, Returns It to New Zealand

The return shows Colossal cooperating with New Zealand authorities and highlights ethical, cultural and scientific stakes in de-extinction work, influencing public trust and access to rare specimens for research.

Bloomberg

10/15/2026

Colossal Biosciences Advances Dodo De-extinction with AI Innovations

Colossal Biosciences enhances its dodo de-extinction efforts through the launch of GenoMorph, an AI platform that identifies key genetic elements, marking a significant step in avian genetic research.

PR Newswire

10/15/2026

Colossal Biosciences' Artificial Egg Aids Endangered Bird Hatching

Colossal Biosciences introduces an Artificial Egg that mimics natural structures, successfully hatching 26 chickens and potentially aiding in the repopulation of endangered bird species.

Time Magazine

10/14/2026

Colossal launches AI platform to accelerate de-extinction; Diamandis backs startups

Colossal's new AI platform aims to accelerate genetic research for de-extinction; Peter Diamandis is launching a fund to back startups using the tool, boosting commercialization and scaling of revival efforts.

TechCrunch