Colossal Biosciences Advances De-Extinction with Dire Wolf Pups
Colossal Biosciences is making progress in de-extinction by creating genetically engineered dire wolf pups using ancient DNA and AI. The company, which also aims to revive the woolly mammoth, has developed three pups named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi through a process involving genome reconstruction from fossils of extinct species. The CEO, Ben Lamm, clarified that while their work is often compared to Jurassic Park, it focuses on conservation and scientific advancement rather than entertainment. The company's approach involves using CRISPR technology and AI models to edit the genomes of modern relatives like gray wolves or Asian elephants to recreate extinct animals' traits. Beyond dire wolves and mammoths, Colossal plans to revive species such as dodos, Tasmanian tigers, and moas in the coming years. Skeptics argue that these are not true de-extinctions but rather modified versions of existing species; however, Lamm maintains they serve ecological functions similar to their extinct counterparts.
Topics: AI in Science Conservation De-extinction Genetic Engineering