Colossal CEO Ben Lamm Urges Humanity to Embrace De-Extinction Technology: A Moral Obligation for Our Future

The CEO of Colossal, a startup focused on using genetic editing to revive extinct species, clarified at SXSW that they aren’t creating a real-life Jurassic Park. Colossal wants to focus on modern conservation techniques and believes we have a responsibility to fix the harm we’ve caused to nature.

During a discussion, CEO Ben Lamm explained that the goal is to develop tools for “de-extinction.” He mentioned their ambitions to bring back species like the woolly mammoth, the dodo bird, and the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger. However, he noted that reviving dinosaurs isn’t feasible due to a lack of usable dinosaur DNA.

Founded in 2023 by Lamm and scientist George Church, Colossal aims to produce woolly mammoth hybrid calves by 2028, potentially reintroducing them to their original Arctic habitat. They also plan to release Tasmanian tiger joeys back into the wild after a period of care.

This ambitious plan has caught the attention of investors, allowing Colossal to raise hundreds of millions and currently hold a valuation of $10.2 billion. The company has already created two spin-off companies, with a third on the way, focused on various applications of this technology. Lamm believes there are substantial financial opportunities in reviving species and promoting environmental restoration.

One notable project is the creation of the “woolly mouse,” a mouse engineered to have traits similar to woolly mammoths. These mice have developed long, shaggy fur due to genetic changes inspired by mammoth DNA. While some experts doubt the project’s significance in true de-extinction, Lamm maintains it shows they are on the right track with their mammoth research.

Lamm also discussed the role of artificial intelligence, suggesting that combining AI with genetic techniques represents a transformative leap in technology. He envisions a future where these advances could lead to breakthroughs like cancer cures, solutions for plastic pollution, and improved access to clean water. He believes that humanity could ultimately gain control over life itself, addressing invasive species and resurrecting those that are lost.

Looking ahead, Lamm speculated that within the next 20 years, we might see life expectancy increase significantly, possibly even exploring the idea of immortality. He also mentioned the need for large-scale projects to preserve endangered species, discussing talks with a government interested in helping with these initiatives.

Colossal is making strides in both scientific innovation and environmental restoration, hoping to create a more sustainable future through cutting-edge technology.

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