'4,000 years gone and now returning': Woolly Mammoth set for 2028 comeback with a 'Jurassic Park' formula
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Ancient Return
After 4,000 years, scientists aim to bring woolly mammoths back. Colossal Biosciences CEO Ben Lamm believes mammoth calves could roam again by late 2028.
Credit: Colossal
Reviving Giants
Colossal Biosciences uses a "reverse Jurassic Park" approach, engineering Asian elephants with mammoth genes to recreate a cold-adapted, hybrid species fit for the wild.
Gene Puzzle
Thanks to CRISPR, researchers can add specific mammoth genes, like those for a woolly coat, to elephant DNA, piecing together traits that make an elephant a mammoth.
Bold Timeline
Lamm is confident in Colossal’s timeline, setting 2028 as the target for the first mammoth calf. They’ve already sequenced the mammoth genome and developed pluripotent stem cells.
Credit: Colossal
Risks Ahead
Reintroducing extinct species comes with risks. Lamm acknowledges that even with models, no one can predict how rewilding mammoths might impact today’s ecosystem.
Credit: Colossal
Not Alone
Alongside mammoths, Colossal aims to revive other extinct animals like the dodo and Tasmanian tiger. Their shorter reproduction cycles could make them the first species revived.
For the Ecosystem
Lamm views the project as a rewilding effort. By introducing mammoths, Colossal hopes to improve biodiversity, mirroring successes with bison in Yellowstone.
Global Efforts
Colossal is already in talks to reintroduce dodos to Mauritius and mammoths to northern US and Canada, underscoring their conservation-centered rewilding approach.
Tech for Preservation
Beyond de-extinction, Colossal’s tools could aid conservation. They aim to save species like the Northern White Rhino by creating viable breeding populations from limited DNA samples.