Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company, has raised $200 million in funding to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth, thylacine, and dodo.
In a Series C round of funding led by Mark Walters' TWG Global, Colossal raised $200 million at a post-money valuation of US$10.2 billion.
Founded by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and Harvard geneticist George Church, Colossal aims to use advanced gene-editing techniques, particularly CRISPR technology, to revive these long-lost species.
“Our recent successes in creating the technologies necessary for our end-to-end de-extinction toolkit have been met with enthusiasm by the investor community. TWG Global and our other partners have been bullish in their desire to help us scale as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said CEO and co-founder Lamm. “This funding will grow our team, support new technology development, expand our de-extinction species list, while continuing to allow us to carry forth our mission to make extinction a thing of the past.”
The company plans to create hybrid embryos by inserting modified genes from ancient DNA samples into cells of closely related species, such as Asian elephants and the woolly mammoth.
Colossal's de-extinction efforts aim to restore biodiversity and balance ecosystems. By reintroducing these species to their natural habitats, the company hopes to address environmental challenges and promote conservation.
Additionally, the advancements in genetic engineering technology developed through these projects could have broader applications in species preservation and human healthcare. Colossal is also determined to give the thylacine a second chance at life.
And the company is committed to bringing the dodo back.
While de-extinction has generated excitement, it has also raised ethical and ecological concerns. Critics argue that reintroducing genetically engineered species could have unintended consequences and that efforts should focus on preventing extinctions in the first place.
Despite these concerns, Colossal remains committed to its mission of making extinction a thing of the past.
Related content
