Colossal’s De-Extinction Plan: Resurrecting the Mammoth

The concept of bringing the woolly mammoth back to life has shifted from the pages of science fiction to the laboratories of serious genetic researchers. Colossal Biosciences, a company co-founded by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church, is actively working to engineer a cold-resistant elephant that mimics the traits of the extinct mammoth. This project aims to restore lost ecosystems, but it also raises significant questions regarding ethics, biology, and the environment.

The Science Behind De-Extinction

It is important to clarify that Colossal is not cloning a woolly mammoth in the traditional sense. Cloning requires a living cell with intact DNA, and mammoth DNA found in the arctic permafrost is far too fragmented after thousands of years. Instead, the team is utilizing CRISPR gene-editing technology to modify the genome of the Asian elephant.

The Asian elephant shares 99.6% of its DNA with the woolly mammoth. Scientists plan to insert specific genes responsible for mammoth traits into the Asian elephant’s genetic code. The result will be a hybrid animal, often referred to as a “functional mammoth” or an arctic-adapted elephant.

Key Genetic Modifications

To survive in the Arctic tundra, this new animal requires specific physiological changes. The genetic engineering team focuses on over 50 specific traits, including:

• Thick shaggy fur: To provide insulation against sub-zero temperatures.
• Subcutaneous fat layers: Thick layers of fat are necessary to retain body heat in harsh winter climates.
• Small ears: Unlike modern elephants, mammoths had small ears to minimize heat loss and prevent frostbite.
• Cold-tolerant hemoglobin: This allows oxygen to circulate effectively through the body even in freezing conditions.

The Ecological Argument: Saving the Permafrost

The primary justification for this massive undertaking is not tourism or curiosity. It is ecological restoration. Colossal proposes that reintroducing large grazers to the Arctic tundra could help combat climate change.

During the Pleistocene era, the “Mammoth Steppe” was a grassland ecosystem maintained by heavy grazing and trampling. Mammoths knocked down trees and trampled snow, which allowed freezing air to penetrate the ground and keep the permafrost frozen. Today, without these large animals, moss and trees have taken over. The snow acts as an insulator, trapping heat in the ground and accelerating the melting of permafrost.

The Methane Threat

When permafrost melts, it releases vast amounts of greenhouse gases, specifically methane and carbon dioxide. Methane is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The theory suggests that a herd of functional mammoths would:

1. Trample insulating snow to freeze the ground deeper.
2. Knock down dark trees that absorb sunlight, replacing them with light-reflecting grass.
3. Restore the carbon-sequestering grasslands of the north.

This concept is currently being tested on a smaller scale at Pleistocene Park in Siberia, where researchers like Nikita Zimov are using bison and horses to mimic these effects.

Ethical Concerns and Animal Welfare

Despite the potential environmental benefits, the project faces intense scrutiny from conservationists and ethicists. The debate centers on the welfare of the animals involved and the allocation of resources.

The Surrogacy Problem

Creating the first mammoth calf presents a biological hurdle. The embryo must be carried to term by a surrogate mother. The only compatible surrogate is the Asian elephant. However, Asian elephants are endangered. Critics argue that using an endangered species as a surrogate for an experimental hybrid places the mothers at unnecessary risk.

To address this, Colossal is investing heavily in the development of artificial wombs. If successful, this technology could gestate the fetus outside of a living animal, removing the risk to the surrogate. However, artificial womb technology for an animal of this size is still in the early stages of development.

Resource Allocation

Another major criticism involves funding. Colossal has raised over $225 million from investors including the United States Innovative Technology Fund and other venture capital firms. Conservationists argue that this money could yield better immediate results if applied to saving existing species, such as the African and Asian elephants, rather than resurrecting a ghost species.

Opponents suggest that habitat loss and poaching are the immediate threats to biodiversity. They worry that “de-extinction” provides a false sense of security, implying that we do not need to worry about extinction because science can simply fix it later.

Timeline and Future Goals

Ben Lamm and the Colossal team have set an aggressive timeline. They publicly stated a goal to have the first mammoth calves born by 2027 or 2028. This accounts for the 22-month gestation period of an elephant.

While the mammoth is the flagship project, the technologies developed during this process have applications for modern conservation. For example, advances in Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) treatments—a disease that kills young elephants—are a direct spinoff of their research.

Colossal is also applying these de-extinction methods to other species. They have announced projects to resurrect the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) and the Dodo bird. Each project utilizes similar gene-editing workflows but faces unique biological challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the new animal be 100% Woolly Mammoth? No. It will be a hybrid Asian elephant with key mammoth traits edited into its DNA. It is scientifically accurate to call it a cold-resistant elephant or a functional mammoth.

When will the first mammoth be born? Colossal Biosciences is targeting late 2027 or 2028 for the birth of the first calf, though scientific delays could push this timeline back.

Where will the mammoths live? The long-term goal is to release them into the Arctic tundra. Locations in Alaska or Canada are potential candidates, alongside the original target of Siberia, depending on geopolitical stability and regulatory approval.

Why not just clone a mammoth? Cloning requires a complete, undamaged living cell. Mammoth DNA found in fossils is fragmented and degraded, making traditional cloning impossible. Gene editing is the only viable path.