Colossal Biosciences breeds controversy while trying to revive mammoths

A Texas biotech company is trying to bring mammoths and other extinct creatures back to life, but the science is as intriguing as the ethical questions are thorny.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, has the audacious goal of resurrecting extinct species like the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo bird. The company is using gene-editing, cloning, and artificial intelligence technologies to try to create cloned, gene-edited mammoth embryos from the skin cells of Asian elephants, the extinct mammoth's closest living relative. While enthusiasts say Colossal could create invaluable tools to resurrect ancient species and save creatures on the brink of extinction, critics argue the company's goals are far-fetched, its claims exaggerated, and question whether it would be ethical or safe to bring back extinct species, even if possible.

Why it matters

Colossal's efforts to revive extinct species have generated both excitement and disdain. Proponents believe the company's work could lead to breakthroughs in conservation and restoration of damaged ecosystems. Critics, however, argue the money would be better spent saving existing endangered species, and fear Colossal's efforts could undermine current conservation efforts by creating a false sense that extinct species can simply be brought back.

The details

Colossal has already produced "woolly mice" by genetically editing mouse DNA to mimic the shaggy fur of mammoths, and claims to have brought back the dire wolf, though critics dismiss this as simply a modified gray wolf. The company is now working to create cloned, gene-edited mammoth embryos from Asian elephant skin cells, with the goal of transferring them to surrogate female Asian elephants in hopes of birthing the first mammoth in about two years. However, skeptics argue these "mammoths" would not be true mammoths, but rather Asian elephants modified to have some mammoth traits.

  • Colossal expects to birth the first mammoth in about two years.

The players

Colossal Biosciences Inc.

The "world's first de-extinction and conservation company" that is trying to resurrect extinct species like the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo bird.

Ben Lamm

The co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences.

Beth Shapiro

Colossal's chief science officer who is leading the efforts to extract and analyze woolly mammoth DNA.

Matt James

Colossal's chief animal officer who oversees the company's work on producing "woolly mice" as a stepping stone to reviving mammoths.

Nic Rawlence

A paleogeneticist at the University of Otago in New Zealand who is skeptical of Colossal's claims, arguing that their "mammoths" would not be true mammoths.

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What they’re saying

“Just because it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it isn't actually going to be a duck. I think it's honestly a pipedream. Extinction is still forever.”

— Nic Rawlence, Paleogeneticist, University of Otago (NPR)

“It could be very cruel to those animals. It could be catastrophic. There's too many variables that we don't understand. There are too many things that could happen.”

— Jeanne Loring, Biologist, Scripps Institute (NPR)

“They're mounting a disinformation campaign designed to garner positive and free public relations in support of raising capital that they can use for the biotech development.”

— Vincent Lynch, Professor of Biology, University of Buffalo (NPR)

“It will be a mammoth because it will look like a mammoth and it will act like a mammoth, and it will restore interactions to that ecosystem that mammoths had with other species.”

— Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer, Colossal Biosciences (NPR)

“I think we have an opportunity to undo some of the sins of the past. A lot of these species we're working on mankind had a direct — like not an indirect — but a direct application to their demise. It's unethical not to do this. It's immoral not to do this. Because I personally believe that only technology and synthetic biology has any hope of saving us.”

— Ben Lamm, Co-founder and CEO, Colossal Biosciences (NPR)

What’s next

Colossal expects to birth the first cloned mammoth in about two years, which would be a major milestone for the company.

The takeaway

Colossal Biosciences' efforts to revive extinct species like the woolly mammoth have generated intense debate, with proponents arguing the company could develop invaluable conservation tools, while critics question the ethics and feasibility of bringing back extinct creatures whose habitats have been dramatically altered. The controversy highlights the complex scientific, ethical, and environmental considerations surrounding the emerging field of de-extinction.