Colossal Bioscience: Woolly Mammoth De-Extinction

The idea of walking alongside a woolly mammoth has shifted from science fiction to a funded, active laboratory project. Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotechnology company, is currently using CRISPR gene-editing technology to splice ancient mammoth DNA into the genomes of modern Asian elephants. Their goal is to create a cold-resistant hybrid that functions exactly like the extinct giant of the Ice Age.

The Breakthrough: Elephant Stem Cells

For years, the biggest hurdle in de-extinction was the inability to culture elephant stem cells. You cannot edit an embryo if you cannot grow the cells in a lab first. In March 2024, Colossal Biosciences announced a massive scientific milestone: the successful derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants.

This development is critical. These iPSCs can turn into any cell type in the body. It allows scientists to test genetic edits in a petri dish without needing to experiment on live elephants. Before this breakthrough, the team struggled because elephant cells possess a unique gene pathway called TP53 that suppresses tumor growth but also triggers cell death when scientists try to manipulate them. The team at Colossal figured out how to suppress this pathway temporarily to create stable stem cells.

It Is Not a Clone, It Is a Hybrid

It is important to understand that Colossal is not “cloning” a mammoth in the traditional sense. Cloning requires a living cell with intact DNA, and mammoth DNA is too fragmented after thousands of years in the permafrost. Instead, the company is practicing “functional de-extinction.”

They are using the Asian elephant as a chassis. The Asian elephant shares 99.6% of its DNA with the woolly mammoth. Scientists are using CRISPR-Cas9 tools to cut and paste specific genes responsible for mammoth traits into the Asian elephant genome. The resulting animal will be a specialized elephant with distinct mammoth characteristics:

Subcutaneous Fat: A thick layer of fat to insulate against freezing temperatures.
Shaggy Coat: Long, thick hair to trap heat.
Small Ears: Reduces surface area to prevent frostbite (modern elephants have large ears to dissipate heat).
Adapted Hemoglobin: Blood that can deliver oxygen efficiently even in extreme cold.

The Founders and The Timeline

Colossal Biosciences was co-founded by Ben Lamm, a technology entrepreneur, and George Church, a renowned geneticist from Harvard Medical School. Since its launch in 2021, the company has raised over $225 million in funding. Investors range from the CIA’s venture capital firm, In-Q-Tel, to the United States Innovative Technology Fund and celebrity backers like Paris Hilton.

The company has set an aggressive timeline. Ben Lamm has publicly stated that they aim to have their first mammoth-hybrid calf born by 2028. Given that the gestation period for an elephant is roughly 22 months, the implantation of the embryo would need to happen relatively soon to meet this deadline.

Why Bring Them Back? The Ecological Argument

The project is not just about creating a spectacle for a zoo. The stated mission of Colossal Biosciences is ecological restoration. The company argues that reintroducing large, cold-tolerant herbivores to the Arctic tundra can help combat climate change.

This theory is based on the work of Russian scientist Nikita Zimov and his father, Sergey Zimov, at Pleistocene Park in Siberia. The hypothesis is that large herds of mammoths used to trample deep snow. This trampling packs the snow down, which allows freezing Arctic air to penetrate the ground and keep the permafrost frozen. Without these animals, the snow acts as an insulator, keeping the ground warmer and allowing the permafrost to melt. Melting permafrost releases massive amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Colossal plans to eventually release these herds into the wild to restore the “Mammoth Steppe” ecosystem.

Technical and Ethical Challenges

Despite the progress with stem cells, significant challenges remain.

Gestation: The team must decide whether to use an endangered Asian elephant as a surrogate mother or develop an artificial womb. Using a live surrogate carries risks to the mother, and Asian elephants are already a threatened species.
Socialization: Elephants are highly social and intelligent creatures that learn from their elders. A solitary mammoth calf born in a lab (or to a distinct species) will not have a herd to teach it how to behave or survive.
Scale: To have the desired ecological impact on the permafrost, you would need thousands of mammoths, not just a few. Breeding that many animals will take decades or even centuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the animal look exactly like a woolly mammoth? It will look very similar. The goal is to produce an animal that is indistinguishable from a mammoth in appearance and behavior, even though its DNA is technically a hybrid.

When will the first mammoth be born? Colossal Biosciences is targeting late 2027 or 2028 for the birth of the first calf.

Where will the mammoths live? Initially, they will likely be kept in controlled environments or sanctuaries. The long-term goal is to release them into rewilding sites like Pleistocene Park in Siberia or similar environments in North America.

Is Colossal working on other extinct animals? Yes. In addition to the woolly mammoth, Colossal is actively working on de-extinction projects for the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) and the Dodo bird.