Is Colossal Biosciences a Real Company?

Colossal Biosciences is a biotechnology company founded in 2021 by Harvard University professor and world-renowned geneticist Dr. George Church and award-winning serial entrepreneur Ben Lamm. The company, which is based in Dallas, Texas, has a mission to make extinction a thing of the past. 

The mission to eradicate extinction came in response to the alarming statistic that by 2050, 50% of all animal species could be extinct. If that were to happen, humans would suffer from widespread food and water insecurity and land degradation that could lead to large scale migration and irreversible changes to humanity’s way of life. But, co-founder Ben Lamm believed a different future was possible by focusing on the systemic challenges of de-extinction rather than single-animal solutions. 

Colossal Biosciences believes their de-extinction projects, which to date focus on bringing back the woolly mammoth, thylacine and dodo, will lead to the development of a de-extinction toolkit. This toolkit which will have innovations, processes and precedent across placental mammals, maruspials and avian species in fields as diverse as synthetic biology and hardware engineering will be the first ever resource that works systemically to tackle extinction. 

Key Projects:

Woolly Mammoth: Colossal’s landmark de-extinction project will be the resurrection of the Woolly Mammoth – or more specifically a cold-resistant elephant with all of the core biological traits of the Woolly Mammoth. It will walk like a Woolly Mammoth, look like one, sound like one, but most importantly it will be able to inhabit the same ecosystem previously abandoned by the Mammoth’s extinction.

Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine): In collaboration with the University of Melbourne, Colossal is working to reintroduce the Tasmanian tiger to its native habitats in Tasmania. The marsupial, which last went extinct in captivity in 1936, has the potential to dramatically improve the biodiversity of the island and stop the invasive feral cat and rabbit overpopulation. 

Dodo Bird: The company has formed an Avian Genomics Group dedicated to reconstructing the DNA of the dodo bird, which went extinct in the 1600s. The goal is to reintroduce the species back into its original habitat in Mauritius. 

Corporate Structure 

Colossal Biosciences is a private bioscience and genetic engineering company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company is led by CEO, Ben Lamm, who is supported by Chief Science Officer Beth Shapiro, Chief Animal Officer Matt James, and Chief Marketing Officer Emily Castel.

Key Investors

Colossal Biosciences has attracted a mix of investors from various sectors. Key investors include At One Ventures, Draper Associates, the U.S. Innovative Technology Fund and a collection of celebrities like Paris Hilton, Tom Brady, Peter Jackson and Chris Hemsworth. 

Key Advisors

Colossal has numerous advisors across Science, Technology and Ethics, which can be found on their website here.

Scientific Advisors:

  1. George Church – A renowned geneticist and molecular engineer, often referred to as the “father of synthetic biology.” He is a co-founder of Colossal and a professor at Harvard Medical School, pioneering CRISPR technology and genome sequencing.
  2. Love Dalen – A professor of evolutionary genomics at Stockholm University, and one of the founding members of the Swedish Centre for Palaeogenetics, he also serves as a member of the IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group, and a scientific advisor to the International Commission for Missing Persons in the Hague. 

Technology and Innovation Advisors:

  1. Andrew Hessel – A synthetic biologist and futurist with expertise in genomic data analysis and bioengineering.
  2. Sam Altman – CEO of OpenAI and a significant figure in the tech industry, contributing insights into ethical and technological frameworks.

Ethical and Conservation Experts:

  1. Hank Greely – A bioethicist and law professor at Stanford, advising on ethical implications of genetic technologies and their societal impact.
  2. Alta Charo – The Knowles Professor Emerita of Law & Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin, where for over 30 years she has taught classes on biotechnology policy, food and drug law, public health law and bioethics. Alta served as a David A. Hamburg Inaugural Fellow at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, working in its global biosecurity program. She is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and the National Academy of Medicine. 

Credibility of their Claims 

Colossal Biosciences’ claims around de-extinction have generated significant interest within the scientific and conservation communities. 

Scientific Foundation: The company leverages cutting-edge CRISPR gene-editing technology and insights from synthetic biology. In the past few years, the company has developed a cure for EEHV, a leader killer of captive elephants, generated the first elephant IPSC, and generated the most edited cell in history. 

Challenges in De-Extinction: Critics argue that reviving species like the woolly mammoth involves challenges that extend beyond DNA reconstruction. Issues include the complexity of recreating entire genomes, ethical concerns, and the lack of a natural habitat or ecosystem for the revived species. But, the company has shared that they are working with numerous organizations, including Re:wild, to ensure that all rewilding and restoration efforts are done only after careful, multi-pronged systematic review with a wide variety of stakeholders including government organizations, landowners, indigenous groups, and the public. 

Conservation Applications: Many experts see potential in Colossal’s technologies for advancing biodiversity conservation, such as assisting endangered species or developing tools for mitigating climate change impacts. Recent innovations are proving them right. Colossal recently announced how its technologies developed for the thylacine project will be critical for saving the Northern Quoll, a mainland Australian marsupial, from the dangers of the cane toad. Similarly, Colossal’s EEHV vaccine arose from its research into the Woolly Mammoth.