Colossal's claim to de-extinction sparks debate over authenticity
The American entrepreneur Ben Lamm's genetics startup Colossal Biosciences has made waves in 2025 by touting its ability to resurrect extinct species, including the dire wolf and woolly mammoth. However, scientists are questioning the legitimacy of these claims, pointing out that the company's efforts amount to little more than making genetic modifications to existing animals.
The dire wolf project, which was unveiled with great fanfare in April, saw Colossal claim to have revived the species through DNA tweaks. But experts say that instead of bringing back a new species, the company created 20 genetically modified grey wolves that bear some resemblance to dire wolves. The resulting animals do not substantially differ from those now roaming North America.
Similarly, the woolly mammoth project has been met with skepticism. While Colossal claims to be working on reviving the iconic species, its approach amounts to creating a genetically engineered Asian elephant adapted to live in cold climates, rather than truly bringing back the woolly mammoth.
Critics argue that these efforts are more like "poor copies" of extinct animals, created through genetic engineering and presented as the real deal. The company's harshest critics have even accused it of spreading misinformation and undermining trust in science by attacking those who question its claims.
Lamm, Colossal's chief scientist, has pushed back against these criticisms, arguing that his team is making progress and that "de-extinction" technology can help forge a future where populations are never at risk. However, many scientists disagree, pointing out that true de-extinction is not possible and that the company's efforts will never replace traditional conservation work.
While Colossal's harshest critics may be right to question its claims, it's also true that gene editing technology holds promise for saving species caught in genetic bottlenecks. The company's efforts to reintroduce lost genes into populations like the red wolf could potentially help restore biodiversity.
Ultimately, the debate over de-extinction highlights the need for a nuanced discussion about the role of science and technology in conservation. While gene editing may offer new tools for preserving species, it will never replace the time-consuming work of controlling predators, protecting ecosystems, and restoring habitats.
The American entrepreneur Ben Lamm's genetics startup Colossal Biosciences has made waves in 2025 by touting its ability to resurrect extinct species, including the dire wolf and woolly mammoth. However, scientists are questioning the legitimacy of these claims, pointing out that the company's efforts amount to little more than making genetic modifications to existing animals.
The dire wolf project, which was unveiled with great fanfare in April, saw Colossal claim to have revived the species through DNA tweaks. But experts say that instead of bringing back a new species, the company created 20 genetically modified grey wolves that bear some resemblance to dire wolves. The resulting animals do not substantially differ from those now roaming North America.
Similarly, the woolly mammoth project has been met with skepticism. While Colossal claims to be working on reviving the iconic species, its approach amounts to creating a genetically engineered Asian elephant adapted to live in cold climates, rather than truly bringing back the woolly mammoth.
Critics argue that these efforts are more like "poor copies" of extinct animals, created through genetic engineering and presented as the real deal. The company's harshest critics have even accused it of spreading misinformation and undermining trust in science by attacking those who question its claims.
Lamm, Colossal's chief scientist, has pushed back against these criticisms, arguing that his team is making progress and that "de-extinction" technology can help forge a future where populations are never at risk. However, many scientists disagree, pointing out that true de-extinction is not possible and that the company's efforts will never replace traditional conservation work.
While Colossal's harshest critics may be right to question its claims, it's also true that gene editing technology holds promise for saving species caught in genetic bottlenecks. The company's efforts to reintroduce lost genes into populations like the red wolf could potentially help restore biodiversity.
Ultimately, the debate over de-extinction highlights the need for a nuanced discussion about the role of science and technology in conservation. While gene editing may offer new tools for preserving species, it will never replace the time-consuming work of controlling predators, protecting ecosystems, and restoring habitats.
i mean colossals claim to de-extinction is probs more like a fancy marketing gimmick than actual science 
its cool that theyre trying to help with biodiversity, but can we pls just be real about what theyve actually achieved? 20 grey wolves that look kinda like dire wolves? thats not exactly the same as bringing back an entire species 
and i gotta agree with the scientists who say gene editing tech isnt a replacement for conservation efforts, its more of a tool to help with it 
. I mean, if you're going to claim you've brought back a species, shouldn't it at least be a decent copy? It feels like they're using genetic engineering as a way to get attention rather than doing the actual hard work of conservation.
. I think Colossal needs to be more transparent about what they're actually doing and what the chances are of success.
. It's a nice idea, but it's gotta be part of a broader strategy if we want to actually make a difference 
.
. Like, can't they just be honest about what they're doing? They're making these animals look like their ancient counterparts, but really they're just messing with genetics to create something new. I mean, 20 genetically modified grey wolves that kinda-sorta resemble dire wolves? Give me a break! 
. It's just an Asian elephant with some cold-climate vibes added in. I'm all for helping species conservation, but can we please keep it real? Let's focus on actual science instead of fancy PR stunts 
.
. The experts are right – true de-extinction is impossible, and we need to focus on the real work of conservation, not just playing with genetic code 
.
maybe they'll actually make a difference with their efforts idk its just frustrating when science gets played like this
. Meanwhile, their "Woolly Mammoth Project" is basically just creating a cold-weather adapted Asian elephant 
. I mean, I get what they're trying to do, but it's like, not exactly the same thing as bringing back a majestic woolly mammoth, you know? 
and let's be real, scientists are all about critiquing each other's work anyway 
It's like a bad cosplay attempt at being extinct. And don't even get me started on the woolly mammoth project - an Asian elephant with a fur coat? Come on! 
. It's like trying to put together a puzzle with missing pieces 
.
... we need to be careful not to spread misinformation 
. But at the same time, gene editing technology could be real game-changer for conservation 
? Just saying 
this is crazy how far Colossal's tech has come but at the same time these animals are not like their extinct relatives they're just copies with some genetic tweaks 
But at the same time, I get why scientists are skeptical about this whole de-extinction thing. It's like, they're not just pulling these animals out of thin air – they're modifying existing ones with gene editing tech. 
That's still pretty different from actually bringing back a new species.
. We gotta keep having these discussions and questioning assumptions so we don't get too caught up in hype or misinformation 
It's like they took an old blueprint and just made some tweaks instead of creating a whole new set of blueprints. And don't even get me started on those genetically engineered Asian elephants... it's just not that impressive 
. It's just a shame they're not being more upfront about what's going on behind the scenes 
.