#deextinction — Public Fediverse posts

Colossal Biosciences Is Making Jurassic Park Look Like a Pitch Deck

Dear Cherubs, Dallas has apparently decided extinction is just a product category. Colossal Biosciences is now a billionaire-level biotech spectacle, with the company saying its latest Series C brought total funding to $615 million and ABC News reporting a roster of celebrity backers that includes Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, Paris Hilton and Peter Jackson. Dallas Innovates also reported that the CIA’s venture arm, In-Q-Tel, invested in Colossal back in 2022.

The result is a company that sounds like it was brainstormed by a film studio, a venture fund and a very committed science teacher. Colossal says it is working on de-extinction projects tied to the woolly mammoth, dodo, thylacine and dire wolf, using gene editing, synthetic biology and related conservation tools. So no, this is not literally Jurassic Park; it is more like Jurassic Park after legal review and a lot of grant money.

THE TEA, BUT WITH MICROPIPETTES

In April, Reuters reported that Colossal announced three genetically engineered wolf pups and called them the world’s first successfully “de-extincted” animals, while outside experts were more cautious and described them as genetically modified gray wolves with added dire-wolf traits. ABC News said Colossal edited gray wolf cells at multiple sites and noted the two species are about 99.5% genetically identical, which is a very impressive number and also a reminder that biology is rude and complicated.

That is the key detail the movie version never pauses for: the company is not dusting off a frozen dinosaur and pressing play. It is using ancient DNA, gene editing and surrogate biology to create something that resembles an extinct species closely enough to trigger headlines, debates and a healthy amount of side-eye. The label “de-extincted” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

WHY THE MONEY FLOWS

The money makes more sense when you look at the technology stack. Dallas Innovates reported that In-Q-Tel said its interest in Colossal was “less about the mammoths and more about the capability,” while Colossal’s own materials say the work could scale CRISPR, synthetic biology, artificial wombs and genomic preservation platforms. In other words, the extinct-animal angle is the headline; the platform is the business.

Colossal has also built a pop-culture-friendly halo around the science. Its advisory board page lists Tom Brady and George R.R. Martin among its cultural advisors, which is exactly the kind of sentence that makes the internet stop scrolling for a second. That is the trick here: make de-extinction feel part science, part blockbuster, part meme, and suddenly the cap table looks almost inevitable.

The hot take is simple: this is not a cartoonish clone factory, and it is not pure hype either. It is a very expensive attempt to push gene editing, cloning-adjacent methods and reproductive tech into territory that could one day matter for conservation as much as spectacle. The dinosaurs are still fiction, but the lab bills are extremely real.

Sources list
ABC News — https://abcnews.go.com/US/dire-wolf-revived-biotech-companys-de-extinction-process/story?id=120558562
Reuters — https://www.reuters.com/science/us-company-resurrects-extinct-dire-wolf-or-some-version-it-2025-04-08/
Dallas Innovates — https://dallasinnovates.com/mammoth-interest-the-cia-invests-in-dallas-based-colossal-biosciences/
Colossal Biosciences — https://colossal.com/colossal-secures-200m-to-accelerate-de-extinction-and-genomic-innovation/
Colossal Biosciences — https://colossal.com/advisors/
Wikimedia Commons (Laboratory.jpg) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laboratory.jpg

Scientists hunting mammoth fossils found whales 400 km inland Sometimes, new data raises more questions than it answers. https://s.faithcollapsing.com/jfwko#alaska #ancient-dna #colossal #de-extinction #mammoth #megafauna #megafaunal-extinction #paleontology #science #whales

Scientists Aim to Bring Back the Moa – A 3.6-Metre Bird Lost for 600 Years
The giant Moa, a flightless bird that towered over New Zealand's landscapes, vanished due to human hunting. Now, a bold genetic project is exploring if we can reverse that extinction. It raises huge questions about de-extinction science, ethics, and habitat restoration.
Is it a chance to right a past wrong, or a step too far?

#deextinction #moa #conservation #science #newzealand #biotechnology #ethics #birds

https://www.ndtv.com/science/scientists-plan-to-de-extinct-12-foot-tall-moa-bird-gone-for-600-years-10051287

Genetic breakthrough paves the way for the return of the dodo bird - Earth.com
https://www.earth.com/news/genetic-breakthrough-paves-the-way-for-the-return-of-the-dodo-bird/

#deExtinction
#deextinctionscience
#dodo

#Deextinction #Neanderthals

"Neanderthals could be brought back within 20 years — but is it a good idea?

With today's technology, we cannot bring back Neanderthals. But even if future advances allow it, should we?

When scientists sequenced the Neanderthal genome in 2010, they learned that Neanderthals interbred with human ancestors before mysteriously going extinct. As a result, many people alive today share up to 4% of their DNA with Neanderthals.

This genetic breakthrough yielded powerful new information about the evolutionary history of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, but it also raised a new question: Could we bring back Neanderthals?

George Church, a Harvard University professor of genetics, answered this question in the affirmative in an interview with Der Spiegel in 2013. Church said that, by chopping the Neanderthal genome up into thousands of chunks and reassembling them in a human stem cell, this 'would enable you to finally create a Neanderthal clone,' which would require an 'extremely adventurous female human' to serve as a surrogate."

https://archive.ph/uEyEk

🚨 The "Dire Wolf" company, Colossal Biosciences, has deep military & CIA ties, sparking skepticism over their de-extinction claims. Secrets, influencers & defense funding fuel questions: Is it science or something else? 🐺🕵️‍♂️ #DeExtinction #ColossalBiosciences #CIA #MilitaryTech #DireWolf https://www.gurumag.com/the-dire-wolf-company-has-close-military-and-cia-ties/

Another Colossal Biosciences headline, yawn. When do you think the press and investors will stop falling for it? "In 5-7 years we will have small fat pigeons in captivity in Mauritius, so yes, definitely dodo de-extinction achieved" https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/sep/17/dodo-birds-gene-editing-advance #ColossalBullshit #deExtinction #dodo #guardian

We just had the first seminar of the season, and we started with an interesting one!
#biodiversity #pond #invertebrate #ClimateChange #extinction #deExtinction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfdef50Bv-c

Wie ich finde, auch nach über 30 Jahren immer noch angenehme Pflichtlektüre für alle biomedizinisch Interessierten, das @laborjournal

Heute neu:
https://www.laborjournal.de/rubric/aktuell/index.php

#biologie #medizin #biomedizin #forschung #deextinction #organoids

How far should #experiments be allowed to go in the name of #deextinction? Arthur Caplan argues that independent ethical oversight needs to be put in place before de-extinction efforts are extended to distant human #ancestors and relatives. #bioethics #PLOSBiology
https://plos.io/41AUwBE

my latest feature in #CurrentBiology: from #mammoth to #moa the hype and #science around #deExtinction

https://proseandpassion.blogspot.com/2025/08/de-extinction-deconstructed.html #conservation #ecology #extinction #ecosystem #GMorganisms #genome

my features published in #CurrentBiology this year, issue 16: from #mammoth to #moa the hype and #science around #deExtinction

https://proseandpassion.blogspot.com/2025/08/de-extinction-deconstructed.html #conservation #ecology #extinction #ecosystem #GMorganisms #genome

#moas #Aotearoa #deextinction

"A species of huge, flightless bird that once inhabited New Zealand disappeared around 600 years ago, shortly after human settlers first arrived on the country’s two main islands. Now, a Texas-based biotech company says it has a plan to bring it back.

Genetic engineering startup Colossal Biosciences has added the South Island giant moa — a powerful, long-necked species that stood 10 feet (3 meters) tall and may have kicked in self-defense — to a fast-expanding list of animals it wants to resurrect by genetically modifying their closest living relatives.

(. . .)

To restore the moa, Colossal Biosciences announced Tuesday it would collaborate with New Zealand’s Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, an institution based at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, that was founded to support the Ngāi Tahu, the main Māori tribe of the southern region of New Zealand.

The project would initially involve recovering and analyzing ancient DNA from nine moa species to understand how the giant moa (Dinornis robustus) differed from living and extinct relatives in order to decode its unique genetic makeup, according to a company statement.

(. . .)

As part of the project, Colossal said it would undertake ecological restoration projects in New Zealand, focusing on rehabilitating potential moa habitats while supporting existing native species.

Many scientists argue that while Colossal’s researchers are advancing the field of genetic engineering, it’s not truly possible to resurrect an extinct animal — any attempt could only create a genetically modified, hybrid species. Suggesting that extinction can be reversed through technology risks undermining the urgency of conserving existing species and ecosystems, critics say."

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/science/giant-moa-colossal-biosciences

Regisseur Peter Jackson 🧙 will den ausgestorbenen Moa, einen riesigen, flugunfähigen Vogel aus Neuseeland, mithilfe von Gentechnik wiederbeleben! 🦤🔬 Das ambitionierte Projekt sorgt für Diskussionen über Wissenschaft, Ethik & Naturschutz. Mehr dazu 👉 https://www.n-tv.de/wissen/Peter-Jackson-will-ausgestorbenen-Moa-wiederbeleben-article25898676.html #Moa #PeterJackson #DeExtinction #newz

Amidst the hype and hoo-hah of people claiming they can bring back moas, here's a dose of common sense from Nic Rawlence -- an associate professor in ancient DNA at University of Otago.

"First the dire wolf, now NZ’s giant moa: why real ‘de-extinction’ is unlikely to fly"

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/566642/first-the-dire-wolf-now-nz-s-giant-moa-why-real-de-extinction-is-unlikely-to-fly

#Deextinction #Moa

Colossal Biosciences obviously touting for investor funds again. What a farce.

"De-extinction is a misnomer, a false promise, that is rooted more in ego than a genuine effort to conserve species. These are exercises in the egotistical delight in the theatrical production of ‘discovery’ devoid of ethical, environmental and cultural considerations. Bring the moa back? To where? To what quality of life? To roam freely?” #deextinction https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/11/de-extinction-extinct-giant-moa-bird-colossal-bioscience-aoe?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Colossal Biosciences plant nach dem "Schattenwolf" nun auch die Rückkehr der ausgestorbenen Moas 🦤🌱 – in Zusammenarbeit mit Māori und Peter Jackson! Ein faszinierendes Projekt für Wissenschaft & Biodiversität. #DeExtinction #Moa #Wissenschaft #newz

🔗 https://www.heise.de/news/Nach-dem-Schattenwolf-Colossal-Biosciences-will-nun-auch-Moas-wiederbeleben-10482457.html

Kurzlink: https://heise.de/-10482457

I’m generally a bit skeptical of de-extinction plans, when we have so many wild species on the brink of extinction that need our help. Still, I find myself excited at the prospect of Peter Jackson helping to bring back NZ’s nine species of moa. Peter can spend his money however he likes, and this is *much* better than buying another big yacht or a social media company.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/south-island-giant-moa-de-extinction-plans-sir-peter-jackson-teams-up-with-colossal-biosciences/5M5QPE2VWVBYRAXPWH6OWOO4DY/

#deextinction #moa #nz #birds #conservation

GMOa! GEmu! Whatever you call them, they're a bad idea.
Their near relative the cassowary can disembowel a person with one kick. This isn't just asking for trouble, it's paying for trouble at great expense!
#moa #GMOa #GEmu #NewZealand #deextinction

GMOa! GEmu! Whatever you call them, they're a bad idea.
Their near relative the cassowary can disembowel a person with one kick. This isn't just asking for trouble, it's paying for trouble at great expense!
#moa #GMOa #GEmu #NewZealand #deextinction

GMOa! GEmu! Whatever you call them, they're a bad idea.
Their near relative the cassowary can disembowel a person with one kick. This isn't just asking for trouble, it's paying for trouble at great expense!
#moa #GMOa #GEmu #NewZealand #deextinction

Sabrina Imbler has a good piece at Defector today, on the continuing saga of the dire wolves that never were, and will almost certainly never be.

A startup made a claim that they knew would get headlines, and some science writers and editors jumped in for the clicks rather than doing their jobs and asking some pretty obvious questions.

#DireWolf #DeExtinction #journalism

https://defector.com/colossal-biosciences-cant-have-it-both-ways

#extinction #deextinction #history

"Indeed, prior to the understanding of genetics, there could only be vague speculation upon how biological resurrection might be possible. For example, in 1932, the Hungarian science writer Desiderius Papp imagined another utopian and technologically advanced future wherein there are . . ."

https://bigthink.com/the-past/the-strange-history-of-de-extinction-began-long-before-the-science/

The Art of #DeExtinction: Reanimating #Species We’ve Lost

https://atmos.earth/the-art-of-de-extinction-reanimating-species-weve-lost/

"As with the dire wolf, the rhino experiment is being watched by skeptics. They question whether genetically engineering a northern white rhino is more of an exercise in technological hubris than genuine conservation."

Elena Kazamia for Nautilus: https://nautil.us/the-last-of-their-kind-1204387/

#Longreads #Science #Animals #Rhino #Conservation #Wildlife #DeExtinction #Extinction

'[T]he Romantic idea of nature as an Edenesque space helped justify policies like the forced displacement of indigenous communities to create “protected areas” devoid of human life...

'Without first recognizing the delicate entanglements we have with the world around us, these #conservation strategies are part of the antagonistic approach to #ecology that got us into this mess.'

https://thebaffler.com/latest/de-extinction-rebellion-kim
#extinction #extinctionEvents #deextinction #conservationism #ecosystems @ecology

Ugh, I'm procrastinating putting any actually interesting functionality into my new #emacs #elisp mode #AMA #lisp #deextinction #cognitive #AI

Does #DeExtinction Actually Work?

https://www.mentalfloss.com/does-de-extinction-work

#DeExtinction Rebellion

https://thebaffler.com/latest/de-extinction-rebellion-kim?utm_source%3Drss-feed%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed

#deExtinction: "The American company #Colossal changed only 14 genes to produce its cute "#direwolf" puppies. Curiously, all 14 are genes with effects on the appearance of animals, being linked to the colour, thickness and length of the fur and the size of the animals.

Is #resurrecting a species now just #cosplaying an extinct animal with a current species? To top it off, George R.R. Martin himself - yes, the author of #GameofThrones - signs the scientific article as well. And he is an investor in the company. He compared the feat to a form of "magic". Only if it's to magically fatten his bank account even more."

https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/reinaldojoselopes/2025/04/notas-sobre-a-pantomima-do-lobo-gigante.shtml

George R.R. Martin calls it “magic”! The dire wolf is back, thanks to Colossal Biosciences. Read how Martin’s fantasy became reality in this de-extinction breakthrough!

Read the full article right here: https://www.theomenmedia.com/post/colossal-biosciences-dire-wolf-revival-kit-harington-weighs-in-with-a-game-of-thrones-twist

#DireWolf #DeExtinction #ColossalBiosciences #GeorgeRRMartin #GameOfThrones #Conservation #Biodiversity #ScienceBreakthrough #RedWolf #EcoInnovation

"#Direwolves dominated southern Canada and the United States, according to Julie Meachen, a paleontologist at Des Moines University who worked on the #ancientDNA project. And they outcompeted gray wolves, being 25 percent bigger and possessing massive teeth and jaws. They hunted horses, bison and possibly mammoths. When many of those prey species became extinct — probably in part because of human hunters — the dire wolf may have been doomed, and the gray wolf swept down from northern Canada and Alaska to fill the ecological void."
#deExtinction #Colossal

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/science/colossal-dire-wolf-deextinction.html?unlocked_article_code=1.904.4NzX.eKnWVyOddB0Q&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

of mice and mammoths https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/04/genetically-modified-woolly-mice-mammoth #science #SmallBeginnings #ecology #DeExtinction #collossal #woollyMammoth

#WoollyMammoth #DeExtinction

"A plan to revive the mammoth is on track, scientists have said after creating a new species: the woolly mouse.

Scientists at the US biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences plan to 'de-extinct' the prehistoric pachyderms by genetically modifying Asian elephants to give them woolly mammoth traits. They hope the first calf will be born by the end of 2028.

Ben Lamm, co-founder and chief executive of Colossal, said the team had been studying ancient mammoth genomes and comparing them with those of Asian elephants to understand how they differ and had already begun genome-editing cells of the latter.

Now the team say they have fresh support for their approach after creating healthy, genetically modified mice that have traits geared towards cold tolerance, including woolly hair. 'It does not accelerate anything but it’s a massive validating point,' Lamm said."

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/04/genetically-modified-woolly-mice-mammoth

How de-extinction could change our destiny
It may sound cool to bring back the woolly mammoth after thousands of years of extinction — but Douglas Preston, the author of a novel that features the revival of the mammoths, has his doubts.

"If you take this and game it out to its logical end, you
https://cosmiclog.com/2024/04/22/how-de-extinction-could-change-our-destiny/
#FictionScienceClub #Books #CLUBClub #Deextinction #DouglasPreston #FictionScience #Genetics #Science #ScienceFiction

6-MAR-2024
Revolutionary elephant iPSC milestone reached in Colossal’s #WoollyMammoth Project
Colossal scientists achieve global first; technology promises seminal advancements for engineering Woolly Mammoth phenotypes in in vitro cellular models, developmental biology, and attaining balance between senescence and cell growth

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1036626 loving the modesty with which they called their company Colossal.
#science #genome #StemCells #DeExtinction #ExtinctSpecies

Scientists hope to bring the dodo back from extinction
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/news/scientists-hope-to-bring-the-dodo-back-from-extinction/ar-BB1iwiMf?cvid=5fcccca0959c424cfd527f2006a54bcb&ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&ei=7

#Dodo
#DeExtinction
#DNA
#Paleontology
#WoollyMammoth
#Mammoth
#TasmaniaTiger
#Mauritius
#Rewinding

Scientists Are Bringing Back Extinct Species. But Is This A Good Thing? - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHLCyJKPK_s&ab_channel=JoeScott
#JoeScott #DeExtinction #Science #DNA #Cloning #DeEvolution #DodoBird #WollyMammoth