Latest news with #ColossalBiosciences
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Science
- Time Magazine
TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025: Colossal Biosciences
Extinction ain't what it used to be. Around one-third of all existing species could vanish due to global warming by 2050 according to the Center for Biological Diversity, but a handful of those already gone—and others on the brink of extinction—are getting a second chance, thanks to Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences. The company announced in March it had genetically engineered mice with the shaggy, golden-brown coat of the woolly mammoth—an initial step in Colossal's stated goal of bringing back the mammoth itself by 2028. In April, Colossal went further with its introduction of three genetically engineered dire wolves, the first representatives of that species to walk the planet in over 10,000 years. Just as important, the company is using similar technology to help protect the red wolf, the Asian elephant, and other species currently clinging to life. 'As I've gotten into the conservation community and…the biotech community, it became abundantly clear that we need new tools and technologies for conservation,' Colossal co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm says.
Forbes
21-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
This Female Scientist Brought The Dire Wolf Back From Extinction
© John Davidson Women make up 43.1% of scientists in the U.S. workforce, yet they account for just 34% of the broader STEM fields, according to the National Science Foundation. Within these industries, many have faced sexual harassment or undue criticism throughout their careers, especially as their work garners public attention. The numbers—and the stories—are sobering. Enter Dr. Beth Shapiro, a powerhouse in genomic science. She has directed her own lab at the University of California, Berkeley, authored critically acclaimed books and holds the prestigious title of HHMI Investigator. Now, as the Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences, a groundbreaking company leading the charge in de-extinction, Shapiro is guiding a predominantly female team to reshape the future of conservation and genomics. While leaving academia wasn't an easy decision for Shapiro, she has gone on to work on some of the most exciting projects in her career. Last year, she made history when she brought the dire wolf back from extinction. On October 1, 2024, the first two dire wolf pups, Romulus and Remus, were born; on January 31, 2025, a third dire wolf named Khaleesi was welcomed into the world. 'What conservation needs is bold ideas and bold action. This breakthrough showcases that humans are capable of both. We can use biotechnologies to speed up the processes of selection and adaptation,' she said in a statement on the Colossal website. 'With the successful birth of Colossal's dire wolf, we are one step closer to a world in which these tools are among those at our disposal to help species thrive in their rapidly changing habitats.' She has faced some level of criticism for the project, and the harshest are often less qualified males in the STEM field. However, Shapiro is more concerned about the next generation. 'We get letters from kids inspired by our work — our science, conservation efforts, and commitment to bettering the planet,' she explained in an interview. 'I worry about them losing hope when they see how women in science are often treated.' © John Davidson This isn't just about Shapiro; it's about the culture of tearing down women in fields where they're already underrepresented. The stakes are high—not just for the scientists, but for the future of innovation itself. What Can We Do To Change The Narrative? Look Beyond The Headlines Not all scientists are created equal. Before buying into criticism, dig deeper into the credentials of those doing the critiquing. Are their accomplishments anywhere near the level of those they're disparaging? Call Out Inequality When you see women's work unfairly diminished, speak up. The more we normalize respect and fairness, the better the culture becomes. Support Girls In STEM Programs that encourage young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Donate, mentor or simply share resources that highlight their importance. Challenge The Status Quo Question why women face disproportionate scrutiny. Is it jealousy, insecurity, or outdated biases? Sometimes, the problem isn't the science. It's the ego of the critic. Celebrate Women's Wins Share their successes, amplify their voices, and ensure their stories reach the audiences they deserve. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes The Science Of De-Extinction Is Providing Hope For Nature's Future By Emma Kershaw Forbes Billionaire Eugene Shvidler Revealed As The Artist Behind ES23 By Emma Kershaw Forbes Inside A $22 Million Mediterranean-Style Villa Overlooking San Francisco By Emma Kershaw
Fast Company
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘Lord of the Rings' director Peter Jackson on the storytelling potential of Colossal Biosciences
At first glance, the pairing of Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson and Colossal Biosciences founder and CEO Ben Lamm is a bit odd. When it's onstage at the world's largest gathering of brands and marketers, it gets even more confusing. But Jackson has been a major investor in Colossal since last year, and he and Lamm were at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity to talk to Chaka Sobhani, president and global chief creative officer at ad agency DDB Worldwide, for a conversation that aimed to find common ground in the creative challenge between Middle Earth and IRL. Colossal, of course, made headlines in April for revealing its first de-extinction project, reintroducing the world's first dire wolf in 10,000 years. After the stage presentation, Jackson told Fast Company that Colossal has significant storytelling potential, particularly in sparking interest and engagement on issues like environmental conservation. 'It's stimulating curiosity, that's the most important thing,' says Jackson. I grew up imagining all sorts of things, imagining flying cars, imagining a woolly mammoth. And the phones, social media, and everything else have the danger of deadening imagination. And so I think that this is an opportunity.' Jackson has had some significant input in how Colossal tells its stories. Lamm says that just before the dire wolf announcement, Jackson had a suggestion: 'He told me, 'When you announce this, you need to show the world the dire wolf howls, because it's the first time in 10,000 years anyone's ever heard that.' That just made it so much better.' Lamm says Jackson is an active investor. The director and his wife Fran Walsh invested $10 million into the company in October 2024. 'Peter gives us a lot of advice,' says Lamm. 'Peter connects us to a lot of people in the world, including George RR Martin. Even though he didn't make dire wolves, he made them famous. Peter actually wants to be involved. It's not about writing a check and then move on to the next deal. They're true partners.' Jackson believes the real power is in the company's potential impact on conservation. 'It's not just de-extinction, which is obviously exciting, but it's also conservation,' says Jackson. 'It's saving species that are really endangered now, and using the technology that these guys have developed to create a larger gene pool, for example, the white rhino. There's only two left.' The most common criticism Jackson hears about Colossal is that it should be spending its time and research on currently endangered species instead of de-extinction. 'Well, you can actually do both,' he says. Both Lamm and Jackson say the de-extinction projects are what get people excited and interested in everything else the company does. Come for the dire wolf, stay for the red wolf. In April, Lamm told the Most Innovative Companies podcast that Colossal had cloned four red wolves that will be able to join the 15 left on earth. 'The red wolf project, to me, is as magical as the dire wolf,' he said. Though sometimes even Jackson gets nervous. 'I was nervous about the woolly mouse,' he says. The company spent 2.5 years editing mammoth genes, then applied its work to mice rather than trying to create a creature that has been extinct for thousands of years. 'It's an important part of their research on the way to a mammoth, but I was saying, 'Do you really want to release it to the public?' Because it could play to people's idea of genetic engineering. It's like your Frankenstein. I was nervous about that.' Lamm says the point of the woolly mice was to transparently show the process toward a full woolly mammoth. It's not taking woolly mammoth genes with 200 million years of genetic divergence and ramming it into a mouse. This is part of a gradual road map. 'Peter brought his concerns to me, but we just feel that if we're doing radical things, we still need to be radically transparent,' says Lamm. 'To Peter's point, while some people could be like, 'Oh, why are they making woolly mice?' We thought it was important to educate the public on this is the process of science, and this is also how we ethically get to a mammoth.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SXSW London: Man hoping to bring dodo and mammoth back to life teases Jurassic Park collaboration
The man working on bringing the dodo and woolly mammoth back to Earth has hinted at the SXSW London event at a collaboration between his bioscience lab Colossal and the Jurassic Park films. The entrepreneur Ben Lamm, founder of Colossal Biosciences, has long been asked about the parallels between his work and the films of Jurassic Park, but has insisted returning the dinosaurs to Earth isn't possible at present due to the lack of available DNA. Dodos and mammoths died out more recently and DNA is available from fossils. Speaking at the SXSW London event in Shoreditch, Lamm teased a future partnership. During a panel discussion with the actor Sophie Turner, Lamm said he was 'very excited about Jurassic Park, and maybe there's future things coming. Not in the dinosaur world, but with those guys.' Lamm has always insisted his 198 employees at Colossal Biosciences are nothing like the fictitious world of Jurassic Park. Speaking to The Guardian earlier this year when asked about the comparison, he said: 'People have to remember that that was a movie, right?' Jurassic World Rebirth, the sixth film in the franchise, arrives in UK cinemas on 2 July. Colossal Biosciences has used genetic engineering processes to bring back to life the dire wolf, an extinct species that lived around 10,000 years ago. The three dire wolves are in a private 2,000-acre ecological preserve somewhere in the US, although the location has not been revealed. They are named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, inspired by the TV series Game of Thrones. Also at the SXSW London event, Lamm revealed he hoped to share further news about Colossal's journey to returning the Dodo to Earth this summer. SXSW London features panels and events with entrepreneurs, film-makers, musicians and thought leaders and runs in Shoreditch until 7 June. Mayor Sadiq Khan opened the event, which originated in Texas in 1987, by pitching London as an international AI hub. Read more:
The South African
07-06-2025
- Science
- The South African
Colossal Biosciences' mission to reawaken Earth's lost wilds
Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, recently shared insights in a lively interview on the TechStuff podcast, hosted by Oz Woloshyn. The Dallas-based biotech firm is making headlines with its bold mission to resurrect extinct species. This included the dire wolf and woolly mammoth through pioneering genetic engineering. Lamm addressed the ethical debates head-on. When accused of 'playing God,' he fired back, 'We play God every day. Taking cholesterol medication is playing God on a personal level. Cutting down rainforests or overfishing oceans is playing God. So why not do it in a way that helps conservation and inspires science?' His frankness cuts through the noise, positioning Colossal's work as a natural extension of humanity's ongoing impact on nature. The company's first breakthrough came with the dire wolf. Lamm described the moment he saw the pups at five weeks old as deeply emotional. 'I got chills bumps. I teared up. It's very, very emotional.' The viral video of the dire wolf pups howling even moved Peter Jackson. The Lord of the Rings director and Colossal investor, was 'overwhelmed' seeing them for the first time, according to Time Magazine. Colossal's approach is rigorous and ethical. Lamm emphasised their 90 %+ efficiency in genome editing, achieved without unintended side effects. 'We read the DNA at every step. It's computationally heavy and costly, but we ensure every embryo is healthy. We're certified by the American Humane Society because we care about animal welfare and conservation,' he said. The company also sparked public fascination with its 'woolly mice' — a genetically engineered mouse with mammoth traits created in just one month. Lamm joked that the mice 'were objectively cute and took the Internet by storm,' proving their process works. He confirmed that similar edits have been made in Asian elephant cells. This is the closest living relative of the woolly mammoth, with hopes to bring a mammoth equivalent to term soon. Lamm called out what he sees as hypocrisy in popular culture. 'People love Jurassic Park's dinosaurs but don't want to call our dire wolves dire wolves. It's a semantic question, not scientific. It's a human construct.' This highlights the cultural challenges Colossal faces in gaining acceptance for de-extinction. With half the world's species forecasted to be extinct or endangered within 25 years, Lamm's vision offers hope through technology. His mission goes beyond spectacle; it aims to restore ecosystems and inspire new generations in science and conservation. Colossal Biosciences is reshaping how we think about nature, responsibility, and the future of biodiversity. As Lamm puts it, 'Sometimes when you work on new things, it's scary and hard. But I'm not backing off the mission.' This pioneering blend of cutting-edge science and bold vision could soon change the natural world Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
