You’ve heard of startups building computer chips, delivery drones and social networks.
“We’re now focusing on having our first calves in the next four to six years.”
Colossal hopes its work will draw attention to biodiversity problems and ultimately help fix them.
Colossal has raised $15 million so far, led by investment firmTulco.
Colossal also hopes to develop artificial wombs to grow its mammoth embryos.
At the foundation of Colossal’s work is CRISPR.
There are other ways Colossal hopes to help.
Its gene editing technology could artificially add genetic diversity to species with only small surviving populations, Lamm said.
Jurassic Park-style tourism?
Nope
Selling or licensing spinoff technology is a somewhat indirect way of running a business.
A more direct option is selling tickets to tourists.
Seeing a creature that’s been gone for 10,000 years could add to the excitement.
But that’s not Colossal’s game plan.
By re-creating woolly mammoths, Colossal can preserve the genetic legacy of Asian elephants that now areendangered.
One Zimov idea is that woolly mammoths will trample snow and knock down trees.
Is species de-extinction a good idea?
There’s an appeal to the idea of de-extinction.
Colossal hopes its work will raise more attention to the biodiversity collapse.
But is that really the best use of our resources to help the planet?
No, some researchers believe.
And, he argues, startups can move faster than government-funded work.
Given how big our environmental problems are, you could see why an investor might be interested.
