Interview excerpt
Amongst genetic engineering and de-extinction initiatives, Colossal Biosciences stands at the forefront. Recognized as one of the TIME100 most influential companies in 2023, it is a biotechnology company founded by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church. Colossal focuses on using advanced genetic engineering techniques, notably CRISPR technology—a precise tool used by scientists to edit genes—to advance de-extinction efforts.
In a development reminiscent of science fiction, one of its most ambitious projects aims to revive the Woolly Mammoth by integrating mammoth-like traits into the genomes of Asian elephants, effectively creating a hybrid species adapted for Arctic environments. This pioneering work has garnered massive media attention and funding, especially since the company managed to sequence the entire genome of the Asian elephant in 2022. Additionally, they are working to de-extinct the Dodo and the Tasmanian Tiger. By leveraging cutting-edge biotechnological tools, Colossal seeks to preserve genetic diversity and restore lost ecosystems.
We caught up with both its co-founder Ben Lamm—known for his entrepreneurial ventures in technology, biotechnology, and his leadership in innovative startups—and its Chief Science Officer Beth Shapiro—the well-known evolutionary biologist and expert in ancient DNA. Shapiro is the author of How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction, which explores the scientific and ethical considerations of de-extinction. Her research has made significant contributions to the understanding of how species respond to climate change and other environmental pressures over time. Beth Shapiro has also contributed to efforts involving the de-extinction of the Dodo, and her work highlights the potential of using ancient DNA to restore lost biodiversity.
Colossal is well-known for its efforts to de-extinct the Woolly Mammoth. Image courtesy of Colossal Biosciences
Q: How would you explain the concept of de-extincting the Woolly Mammoth by 2028 to those who see it as a form of science fiction?
Ben Lamm: I think it all depends on how you define de-extinction. Most people think it refers to a clone of an extinct species or an animal that's engineered to look like an extinct species. But a mammoth that looks like a mammoth and isn’t cold-tolerant is not something you could put into an Arctic environment.
At Colossal, we think of de-extinction as rebuilding extinct species for today. So, with that, we start with an Asian elephant which is 99.6% the same genetically as Woolly Mammoths. Then, we spend a lot of time looking at the ancient genomes and comparing them to the reference genomes that we've made of the living species, in this case, the Asian elephant. We then do extensive computational analysis which is were software and AI comes in. Contrary to popular perception, a lot of this work is with software and in the lab. So, it’s not as visual as it’s been portrayed in certain movies.
The reason why we’re decided and feel bullish about our 2028 1.0 mammoth calves is that we’re really standing on the shoulders of giants like George Church and others who built these incredible technologies, along with decades of technological development and research which has really empowered us to be in the position that we are now.
When it comes to elephants, we are now in the editing phase and our goal is to have mammoth embryos by late 2026. If everything goes well from a gestational perspective, then late 2028 we would hopefully have our first calves.
Read the full interview in the article ‘Colossal Biosciences Leads the Charge for De-Extinction’ available in the July – August 2024 51st Issue New Technology Uncovering the Past. Get it here!
Featured Image: Dr. Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences, and Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO. Source: Image courtesy of Colossal Biosciences
By Cecilia Bogaard