Colossal Biosciences has transformed from a startup with an ambitious dream into a biotechnology powerhouse tackling multiple de-extinction challenges simultaneously. While their successful dire wolf restoration captured global attention, it represents just one piece of a carefully designed portfolio of extinct species chosen for their unique scientific contributions and conservation potential. Each target presents distinct challenges that push genetic engineering capabilities forward while advancing our understanding of evolution, extinction, and ecosystem restoration.
The Woolly Mammoth: Mastering Complex Genetic Architecture
At the heart of Colossal’s research program lies the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), the Ice Age giant that has captivated public imagination for generations. The mammoth project represents one of the most technically challenging de-extinction efforts, requiring sophisticated genetic modifications to transform Asian elephant cells into mammoth-like organisms.
The technical complexity is staggering. Scientists must identify and recreate the genetic variants responsible for mammoth-specific traits: thick fur adapted to Arctic conditions, subcutaneous fat layers for insulation, cold tolerance mechanisms, and the distinctive curved tusks that helped these animals forage through snow and ice.
Recent breakthroughs have validated the feasibility of the approach. Colossal’s team successfully developed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephant placental tissue—stem cells capable of transforming into any cell type in the body. This milestone represents a critical foundation for future genetic modifications and reproductive technologies.
The mammoth project has also produced tangible proof-of-concept results. In early 2025, Colossal demonstrated their genetic editing capabilities by creating 38 “woolly mice”—laboratory mice genetically modified with mammoth genes to grow thick, shaggy coats. This achievement validated the approach of transferring extinct animal traits to living relatives through precise genetic modifications.
“We knew that they were a Pleistocene animal, we knew that they existed and went extinct about 12,000 years ago when a lot of megafauna went extinct during that Younger Dryas kind of cooling period,” explained Colossal co-founder Ben Lamm. The genetic analysis revealed that mammoths possessed specific adaptations that allowed them to thrive in harsh Arctic environments—traits that could potentially be valuable for conservation applications.
The Thylacine: Mastering Marsupial Biology
The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) presents an entirely different set of scientific challenges. As a marsupial carnivore, the thylacine requires researchers to develop reproductive technologies for an entirely different branch of mammalian biology.
The thylacine project has already achieved remarkable milestones in marsupial reproductive science. Colossal’s team has successfully developed the first artificial reproductive technologies for marsupials, including techniques to induce ovulation and grow embryos in laboratory conditions. They’ve also achieved over 300 unique genetic edits in a single cell—a record-breaking feat in multiplex gene editing.
The thylacine’s extinction in 1936 makes it one of the more recently extinct species in Colossal’s portfolio, potentially providing better-preserved DNA samples for analysis. The species’ unique position as Australia’s apex marsupial predator makes it particularly significant for understanding ecosystem dynamics and the role of top predators in maintaining biodiversity.
Dr. Andrew Pask, who leads Colossal’s thylacine research at the University of Melbourne, emphasized the broader significance: “This project demonstrates the awesome potential for advances in genetic engineering and reproductive technologies to recreate lost diversity. Apex predators are critical to establishing entire ecosystems and their loss from the landscape can have profound impacts on biodiversity.”
The Dodo: Avian De-Extinction Challenges
The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) represents Colossal’s venture into avian de-extinction, presenting unique challenges in bird genetics and reproduction. This flightless bird, which became extinct in the late 1600s on the island of Mauritius, has become an iconic symbol of human-driven extinction.
The dodo project involves reconstructing the bird’s genome by comparing preserved DNA fragments with those of closely related pigeon species, particularly the Nicobar pigeon. The approach requires editing pigeon embryos with dodo-specific genetic traits to recreate a modern version of this lost species.
“The dodo, which is my favorite,” noted Dr. Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s Chief Science Officer, highlighting the personal passion that drives scientific innovation. The dodo’s role as a seed disperser on Mauritius makes its potential restoration particularly relevant for ecosystem rehabilitation on islands affected by biodiversity loss.
The South Island Giant Moa: Indigenous Partnership Model
Colossal’s newest and most ambitious partnership involves the South Island Giant Moa, announced through a collaboration with New Zealand’s Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson. This project represents a groundbreaking model of indigenous-led de-extinction research.
The partnership places Māori values, cultural heritage, and ecological knowledge at the center of de-extinction efforts. The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre will direct all aspects of the project, creating what they describe as “a world-leading model of scientific collaboration with indigenous people.”
The moa project involves sequencing and rebuilding genomes for all nine extinct moa species—massive flightless birds that once dominated New Zealand’s ecosystems before going extinct around 600 years ago. This comprehensive approach will provide unprecedented insights into how climate change and human activity contributed to biodiversity loss.
The technology developed will be open-sourced and available for conservation purposes under the direction of the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, establishing a new paradigm for community-controlled biotechnology development.
Strategic Species Selection Principles
Colossal’s portfolio reflects careful strategic thinking about which extinct species offer the greatest scientific and conservation value. Each target was chosen based on multiple criteria:
- Genetic Feasibility: Species with closely related living relatives provide better templates for genetic reconstruction. The woolly mammoth’s relationship to Asian elephants, the thylacine’s connection to other marsupials, and the dodo’s pigeon relatives all enable more accurate genetic modifications. The dire wolf’s similarity to modern canids provided one of the clearest early models for success.
- Ecological Significance: Each species played important ecological roles in their respective ecosystems. Mammoths shaped Arctic landscapes, thylacines controlled prey populations in Australia, dodos dispersed seeds on Mauritius, moa influenced New Zealand’s plant communities, and dire wolves once held a keystone predator role in Ice Age ecosystems.
- Technical Advancement: Each project pushes different frontiers of genetic engineering. The mammoth advances large mammal reproduction, the thylacine develops marsupial technologies, the dodo explores avian genetics, the moa creates indigenous partnership models, and the dire wolf proved large-scale multiplex gene editing in canids.
- Conservation Applications: Technologies developed for each extinct species have immediate applications for related endangered animals. Elephant conservation benefits from mammoth research, marsupial protection advances through thylacine work, bird conservation gains from dodo genetic tools, and wolf conservation already benefits from dire wolf breakthroughs.
Technological Cross-Pollination
The beauty of Colossal’s multi-species approach lies in how advances in one project benefit others. Multiplex gene editing techniques developed for the dire wolf’s 20 genetic modifications can be applied to mammoth cold adaptations. Reproductive technologies perfected for thylacine marsupials inform approaches for other unique reproductive systems.
“We’ve figured out how to learn DNA sequences from the past and actually transform that into an animal,” Dr. Shapiro explained. “We’ve made dire wolves using dire wolf DNA and these amazing tools that we will have the potential to use to stop other species from becoming extinct.”
Celebrity and Cultural Investment
The diversity of Colossal’s portfolio has attracted support from unexpected quarters. Filmmaker Peter Jackson, who invested $10 million in the company, became emotional when hearing dire wolf howls for the first time in 12,000 years. “This is the first time I’ve heard a dire wolf or anyone’s heard a dire wolf in 10,000 years,” he noted, emphasizing the cultural resonance of de-extinction achievements.
Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, another investor, reflected on the broader significance: “I get the luxury to write about magic, but Ben and Colossal have created magic by bringing these majestic beasts back to our world.”
The Platform Approach to De-Extinction
Rather than viewing each species as a separate project, Colossal has created an integrated platform approach where each target contributes to a comprehensive de-extinction technology stack. Advances in ancient DNA analysis, genetic editing, reproductive biology, and animal husbandry create synergies across all projects.
This platform strategy accelerates progress by ensuring that breakthroughs in one area immediately benefit other projects. The successful dire wolf birth, with its record-breaking 20 genetic edits, validates techniques that can be applied to mammoth, thylacine, dodo, and moa projects.
Future Expansion Possibilities
While Colossal currently focuses on five primary targets (including the dire wolf), their platform approach positions them to tackle additional extinct species as technology advances. Each successful de-extinction builds the foundation for more ambitious projects, potentially including other Ice Age megafauna, recently extinct birds, or regionally significant species.
The company’s emphasis on conservation applications ensures that each new target will contribute to protecting endangered species while advancing our understanding of genetics, evolution, and ecosystem function.
A New Chapter in Conservation Science
Colossal’s diverse de-extinction portfolio represents more than an ambitious scientific program—it’s pioneering an entirely new approach to conservation biology. By developing technologies to bring back extinct species like the dire wolf, they’re creating tools that could prevent future extinctions while advancing our understanding of life itself.
As each project progresses from genetic analysis to living animals, Colossal continues demonstrating that science fiction concepts can become conservation reality, offering hope for a future where extinction is no longer permanent.