In a real-life twist on the iconic Jurassic Park story, a U.S. company called Colossal Biosciences is working to bring extinct creatures like the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the Tasmanian tiger back from the dead. But don’t expect to see these animals roaming free in a theme park anytime soon – the process of “de-extinction” is far more complex than the movie makes it seem.
According to recent reports, Colossal Biosciences is using cutting-edge genetic engineering techniques to resurrect these long-lost species. The company’s scientists are working to splice DNA from extinct animals into the genomes of their closest living relatives. For example, they plan to create a mammoth-elephant hybrid by adding mammoth DNA to Asian elephant cells.
But the mammoth isn’t the only extinct creature Colossal Biosciences has its sights set on. The company is also working to bring back the dodo, a flightless bird that was hunted to extinction in the 17th century. By using DNA from preserved dodo specimens, they hope to create a hybrid bird that exhibits many of the dodo’s unique characteristics.
Another ambitious project in the works is the resurrection of the Tasmanian tiger, also known as the thylacine. This marsupial predator went extinct in the 1930s due to human hunting and habitat loss. Colossal Biosciences plans to use DNA from preserved thylacine pups to create a genetic clone of the animal.
But why bring back these particular animals? Colossal Biosciences says it’s not just for the wow factor – there are potential ecological benefits too. Reintroducing mammoths to the Arctic tundra could help restore the region’s ancient grasslands and combat climate change.
However, some experts are skeptical about the feasibility and ethics of de-extinction. Unlike in Jurassic Park, we don’t have fully preserved dinosaur DNA to work with. The oldest DNA ever recovered is from a million-year-old mammoth, and it was badly degraded. Critics argue that any animals brought back would be mere approximations of their extinct counterparts.
There are also concerns about the welfare of the animals and the impact on existing ecosystems. However, Colossal Biosciences says it is in talks with local governments, private land owners and indigenous peoples to ensure the safety of the reintroduced animals and the people and animals they’ll be sharing habitats with.
Some also fear that the resources poured into de-extinction could divert attention away from critical conservation efforts to protect species that are currently endangered.
Despite the challenges, Colossal Biosciences remains optimistic. The company aims to produce its first mammoth calf by 2028. While we may not see herds of mammoths roaming the tundra, dodos strutting through the forest, or thylacines stalking the Australian bush any time soon, the dream of bringing back extinct species is no longer confined to the realm of science fiction. The question is, just because we can, should we?
Colossal Biosciences aren’t just working on reintroducing extinct animals. They’re also working with an array of other projects focused on species preservation. This includes a promising vaccine to eliminate the EEHV virus that kills roughly 20 percent of baby elephants.
I’m excited to watch the documentary they’re filming to show the de-extinction journey to the whole world.
How do you feel about de-extinction? Do you believe that these creatures had their time? Or do you think that if we have the technology, we have the responsibility to bring back creatures that humans drove to extinction?
If I’m honest, I’m not sure where I sit on the issue. I can certainly see the potential benefits when it comes to species preservation, helping to increase the numbers of endangered and threatened species. But why jump straight to de-extinction when there are 1,000,000 endangered species in need of conservation and preservation?
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