Articles from Colossal Biosciences

Colossal Biosciences, the world’s only de-extinction company, today announces the rebirth of the once extinct dire wolf, the world’s first successfully de-extincted animal. The dire wolf, largely assumed to be a legendary creature made famous from the HBO hit series Game of Thrones, was an American canid that had previously been extinct for over 12,500 years. The successful birth of three dire wolves is a revolutionary milestone of scientific progress that illustrates another leap forward in Colossal’s de-extinction technologies and is a critical step on the pathway to the de-extinction of other target species.

In an extraordinary achievement of advanced multiplexed genome engineering, Colossal Biosciences announces the birth of the Colossal Woolly Mouse—mice engineered to express multiple key mammoth-like traits that provide adaptations to life in cold climates. By successfully modifying seven genes simultaneously, Colossal's team created mice with dramatically altered coat color, texture, and thickness reminiscent of the woolly mammoth’s core phenotypes. This achievement demonstrates the feasibility of expressing traits using information learned from the computational analysis of 59 woolly, Columbian, and steppe mammoth genomes ranging from 3,500 to over 1,200,000 years old confirming these pathways as the crucial targets for mammoth de-extinction.

Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company, has today announced $200M in a Series C financing by TWG Global, a diversified holding company with operating businesses and investments in technology/AI, financial services, private lending and sports and media, jointly led by Mark Walter and Thomas Tull. Since launching in September 2021, Colossal has raised $435M in total funding. This latest round of capital places the company at a $10.2 billion valuation. Colossal will leverage this latest infusion of capital to continue to advance its genetic engineering technologies while pioneering new revolutionary software, wetware and hardware solutions, which have applications beyond de-extinction including species preservation and human healthcare.

Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company, today announces the formation of The Colossal Foundation and the initial flagship projects in its conservation agenda. The Colossal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) focused on the real world application of Colossal-developed science and technology innovations. The foundation will specifically focus on partner-led conservation initiatives where Colossal’s science and technologies can revolutionize wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration, quickly.

Today scientists from Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company, and the University of Melbourne announce a major step forward in the effort to save Australia’s endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) from the invasive cane toad. The two organizations have performed genetic engineering with proprietary tools, to introduce genetic resistance in marsupial cells against the cane toad toxin. This is a crucial step towards a world-first application of gene-editing technologies for conserving a threatened species.

Breaking, a plastic degradation and synthetic biology company, gestated at Colossal Biosciences based on a core discovery out of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, launches today with the announcement of their discovery, X-32, which they will develop to address the global plastics crisis. In its natural state, X-32 can degrade polyolefins, polyesters, and polyamides leaving behind carbon dioxide, water, and biomass in as little as 22 months. With future synthetic genetic edits, the team is focused on making X-32 faster, more efficient, and more effective with a harmless environmental impact.

Re:wild and Colossal Biosciences are celebrating a new, powerful partnership that aims to accelerate global efforts to save species on the brink of extinction, search for lost species, and restore key habitats for species recovery and rewilding.

Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company, today announced that Beth Shapiro, Ph.D., internationally renowned evolutionary molecular biologist, leader in paleogenomics, and ancient DNA expert, has joined as Chief Science Officer. In this role, she will oversee the continued expansion of the company’s de-extinction and conservation science teams. She leaves her roles as Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and lead of the Paleogenomics Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, effective March 15th.

Colossal Biosciences (“Colossal”), the world’s first de-extinction company, announces today that their Woolly Mammoth team has achieved a global-first iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) breakthrough. This milestone advancement was one of the primary early goals of the mammoth project, and supports the feasibility of future multiplex ex utero mammoth gestation.

After fielding extensive interest from filmmakers, Colossal Biosciences and production partner Teton Ridge Entertainment have signed with James Reed, director of Oscar-winning Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher, and his company Underdog Films, to produce a multi-year docuseries following the groundbreaking work of Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company. Reed and producing partner Matt Houghton will executive produce for Underdog, along with Jillian Share for Teton Ridge Entertainment. Michael Dougherty will also executive produce. Specialist observational film-maker Sophie Todd (Formula 1 - Drive To Survive) has joined as Showrunner.

Emily Castel, formerly President and Chief Brand Officer of Teton Ridge - an omnichannel entertainment company, has joined Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company as Chief Marketing Officer. Castel will bring her global entertainment and consumer brand experience to Colossal where she will lead global efforts to scale the company’s brand, experiences, consumer products and emerging media properties.

Colossal Biosciences, the breakthrough genetic engineering and de-extinction company, is pleased to announce the formation of the Tasmania Thylacine Advisory Committee. Led by Tasmanian Mayor Michele Dracoulis, this committee will provide a crucial public body for the discussion, development and dissemination of plans related to the rewilding of the thylacine. Commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, the slim, striped keystone species was native to Australia, including Tasmania and New Guinea. Last year, Colossal announced plans to de-extinct and return the Thylacine to its native habitat in collaboration with local government, aboriginal representatives, industry leaders, private landowners, university representation and the public at large.

Colossal Biosciences, the breakthrough genetic engineering and de-extinction company, has partnered with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit conservation organization based in Mauritius that works closely with the Mauritian government and a host of partners on all matters conservation, to help return the extinct dodo to its home. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation will serve as Colossal’s primary rewilding partner for the ambitious project of resurrecting and rewilding the dodo, an iconic bird and a symbol of man-caused extinction.

Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction and species preservation company, has partnered with Save the Elephants, a leading non-profit that works to secure a future for wild African elephants, on a first-of-its-kind initiative that will use cutting edge drone technology and machine learning to help track African elephants in Kenya for both conservation and research purposes.

Colossal Biosciences (“Colossal”), the world’s first de-extinction company, and BioRescue, a consortium initiating and leading the scientific rescue mission of the northern white rhino employing advanced assisted reproduction technologies and stem cell associated techniques, have teamed up to save the northern white rhino from extinction. The partnership will also develop a roadmap for future rescue missions of endangered species using the world leading expertise of both organizations. Together they will work to improve, develop, and implement strategies in the fields of wildlife conservation research and wildlife veterinary medicine, providing approaches to reduce the sixth mass extinction.

In the largest initiative of American mammoth research ever conducted, Colossal Biosciences, the breakthrough genetic engineering and de-extinction company, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has announced that the first-of-its-kind “Mammoth in the Classroom” initiative has reached its initial research and adoption goal. Through this important initiative, which is part of the Adopt a Mammoth program, 55 mammoth fossils have been donated to school districts across the state of Alaska, allowing students to participate in this scientific discovery.

Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company, has today announced an integrated partnership with Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation, the only elephant orphanage in Botswana, to establish a new model playbook for reintroducing orphan elephants back into the wild.

Colossal Biosciences ("Colossal"), the world’s first de-extinction company, has been named to the third-annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, which recognizes 100 companies making an extraordinary impact around the world.

Colossal Biosciences, a breakthrough biosciences and genetic engineering company, and the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP), which aims to sequence high-quality reference genomes for all living vertebrates, partnered to successfully generate the first high-quality reference genome of the African elephant. Last year, the partnership announced a near complete sequence of the Asian elephant genome. The sequencing work is part of a long-term effort to ensure the survival of elephant species in the face of climate change, deforestation, and disease. The genome, published in NCBI and public to all, includes sequencing, assembly, and annotation, and introduces a step forward in innovative animal conservation. The project was overseen by Erich Jarvis, Ph.D., a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Professor at The Rockefeller University and Chair of the Vertebrate Genomes Project, Olivier Fedrigo, Former Director of The Vertebrate Genomes Laboratory (VGL), and Eriona Hysolli, Head of Biological Sciences at Colossal.

Colossal Biosciences, the world’s first de-extinction company, has today announced an oversubscribed $150M Series B financing led by United States Innovative Technology Fund (“USIT”), with participation from Breyer Capital, WestRiver Group, Bob Nelsen, Animal Capital, Victor Vescovo, In-Q-Tel, Animoca Brands, Peak 6, BOLD Capital, and Jazz Ventures, among others.

Colossal Biosciences, a breakthrough genetic engineering and de-extinction company, accelerates efforts to end elephant extinction on Earth. The initiative includes using innovative technologies to uncover mechanisms by which Fatal Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (“EEHV”) causes illness and is the leading cause of death in juvenile Asian elephants born in North America and in their natural range countries. Colossal will lead the development of novel treatments and a vaccine to prevent the deadly disease and protect as many elephants as possible - both in zoos and in their natural habitats.

Colossal Biosciences, the de-extinction company behind the woolly mammoth and thylacine, today announced the launch of Form Bio, a new independent company offering a breakthrough computational life sciences platform. Form Bio enters the market with an oversubscribed $30M Series A funding round led by JAZZ Venture Partners with participation from Thomas Tull, Colossal lead investor. Form Bio offers an advanced, comprehensive software platform that replaces cumbersome, code-heavy processes with simple, user-friendly software, empowering scientists to reach discoveries and breakthroughs in less time and with less effort. Form Bio is the first technology spinout from Colossal, whose strategy includes commercializing scientific innovations on its path to de-extinction through new, independently operating companies.

Colossal Biosciences, a breakthrough genetic engineering and de-extinction company, announces it has started the de-extinction of the thylacine, a beloved Australian marsupial that was eradicated by human hunting nearly a century ago. Commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, the slim, striped keystone species was native to Australia, including Tasmania and New Guinea and had previously roamed the Earth for millions of years. This is the second announced animal de-extinction project from Colossal, which uses breakthrough gene-editing technologies for a new wave of wildlife and ecosystem conservation.

Colossal Biosciences, a breakthrough biosciences and genetic engineering company, and the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP) have become the first to successfully sequence the entire Asian elephant genome, introducing a new wave of innovative and disruptive animal conservation. Mammalian genetic code has not been fully sequenced at this degree since the Human Genome Project was completed in the early 2000s, which forged the ability to read nature's complete genetic blueprint for a human. This effort not only ensures the endangered Asian elephant lineage will endure, but also introduces a new wave of thoughtful and disruptive animal conservation through genetic rescue.

Colossal Biosciences, a breakthrough biosciences and genetic engineering company, was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s “Technology Pioneers”. Colossal has invented a working model of de-extinction and is the first to leverage CRISPR and other gene editing technologies for the purposes of species de-extinction, beginning with the woolly mammoth. Genetic tools and technologies developed by Colossal will also have the potential to advance human health, enhance food production, reduce environmental impact, and optimize animal health and welfare.