De-extinction: AI to resurrect woolly mammoths and dodos

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Biotech startup Colossal Biosciences raised $200 million (R3.7 billion) for its de-extinction projects: To bring extinct species back to life.

Think woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and even the dodo bird.

Remember when Jurassic Park was just a cool movie? Yeah, we’re beyond that now. This is actually happening.

Let’s go down this rabbit hole, shall we?

Colossal’s de-extinction projects

Founded in 2021, Colossal Biosciences is on a mission to make extinction a thing of the past. Literally.

They say it’s about more than just “reawakening the past. This is rebuilding the past to be prepared for the future.”

de-extinction colossal woolly mammoth dodo
Dr Ian Malcolm Jeff Goldblum wasnt wrong Credit Edited Colossal image

Using a mix of AI, genetic engineering, and cutting-edge CRISPR tech, their scientists want to take ancient genomes and turn them into living, breathing animals.

Colossal, the world’s first and only de-extinction company, says it is “closer to restoring the past, preserving the present and safeguarding the future than anyone before.”

A case for against de-extinction

I still couldn’t help but think of Jeff Goldblum’s iconic warning: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

That said, as I’m writing this, I’m leaning more and more towards the “Yeah, we totally should” side of this debate.

Colossal Chief Science Officer Beth Shapiro explains it succinctly:

Do you think they’re just brainstorming? Nah, boo.

Here’s where they’re at with each project:

Woolly mammoth

The woolly mammoth is Colossal’s star project.

They’ve already sequenced its genome and are now working on combining mammoth genes with those of its closest relative, the Asian elephant.

Their plan?

Engineer elephants that can survive freezing climates. Imagine herds of “mammoth-elephants” roaming the Arctic tundra, helping to restore the grasslands and fight climate change!

Tasmanian tiger (thylacine)

The thylacine, also known as the famed Tasmanian tiger, went extinct in the 1930s. But Colossal has sequenced its genome and pulled viable DNA from museum specimens.

The team is now working on cloning technologies, but they’re still years away from creating a viable thylacine.

It’s a slow process, but the progress is groundbreaking.

Dodo bird

The dodo’s genome has been fully mapped, and scientists are now experimenting with ways to modify pigeon DNA to bring back the iconic flightless bird.

They’re not just bringing the dodo back for nostalgia… No.

This project could pave the way for saving other endangered bird species.

De-extinction: Why does it matter?

It’s easy to get caught up in the cool factor, isn’t it? Woolly mammoths walking the Earth again, how cool is that!

But Colossal’s work is about more than just bringing back extinct animals.

Here’s why it’s a big deal:

Biodiversity:

The world is losing species faster than ever before, with some estimates saying over 27,000 species go extinct every year.

Reviving lost species could help balance ecosystems and combat the biodiversity crisis.

Conservation tech:

The tools Colossal is developing for de-extinction can also be used to save endangered species.

For example, their mammoth project has already led to breakthroughs in reproductive technologies that could help preserve elephants.

Climate change:

Bringing back species like the woolly mammoth isn’t just a science experiment—it could actually help.

Mammoths could restore Arctic grasslands, which reflect sunlight and trap carbon, slowing the effects of climate change.

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But should we do this, Mr Goldblum?

Of course, not everyone is on board.

Some scientists are concerned about the ethical implications and the potential risks of releasing “de-extinct” animals into the wild.

What happens if they don’t adapt to today’s ecosystems? Or worse, what if they disrupt them? These are valid questions.

A study published by the Ecological Society of America, for one, cites the potential risks of de-extinction. These include:

  • Biological invasions
  • Disruption to fragile ecosystems
  • Diversion of resources from current conservation efforts.

And of course, irreversibility. Once a species is resurrected (so to speak), the negative impacts would be hard to reverse. This makes it a very risky ecological experiment.

But Colossal seems committed to tackling de-extinction responsibly. They’re not just cloning animals for fun—they’re building a conservation toolkit that could help save countless species.

The case for de-extinction

While the risks are significant, we can’t ignore the reasons why de-extinction should be explored.

  • Bringing some of these animals back could restore damaged ecosystems. The woolly mammoth, for example, could restore Arctic grasslands, which in turn reflect sunlight and store carbon.

  • The tools to do this (CRISPR and advanced genome mapping) can be applied to save animals currently on the endangered list. You know, before we kill them all.
  • We’d also be addressing the biodiversity crisis. According to Ethics, Policy and Environment (2014), reviving lost species could strengthen resilience to bigger environmental changes.

And let’s not forget about the cultural and educational value of bringing extinct species back to life. Some species (like the Tasmanian Tiger) hold symbolic value.

What’s next?

Colossal has raised a whopping $435 million (R8.1 billion) since its launch and is valued at over $10 billion.

They’ve partnered with some of the world’s top conservation organizations – Re:wild and Save The Elephants – to ensure their work has a meaningful impact.

By 2050, it’s estimated that over 50% of the world’s animal species could be extinct. Colossal’s work might be one of the tools we need to stop that from happening.

So, will we see a dodo waddling around in our lifetime? Maybe. But more importantly, this tech could give endangered species a fighting chance.

If nothing else, it’s a reminder that science fiction doesn’t always have to stay fiction. Sometimes, it becomes fact.

And sometimes, it might even save the world.

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Cheryl Kahla Founder and Editor
Cheryl Kahla explores the intersections of tech and society. She covers emerging tech trends, AI, science, and gaming. Outside of writing, Cheryl indulges in martial arts and debating the merits of AI with her cat, Gotham. He is indifferent to the subject.

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