3/3/2025
De-extinction: “The process of generating an organism that both resembles and is genetically similar to an extinct species by resurrecting its lost lineage of core genes; engineering natural resistances; and enhancing adaptability that will allow it to thrive in today’s environment of climate change, dwindling resources, disease and human interference.” This is the definition provided by Colossal, ‘the world’s first and only’ de-extinction company.
Earlier this week, they successfully transmuted their first woolly mice. This is a major step toward their goal of bringing back the long extinct woolly mammoth. The drive to resurrect the mammoth comes from two core beliefs.
First is their belief in conserving current elephant populations. Currently, two species are classified as endangered, while one is classified as critically endangered. All three are steadily declining due to human factors such as poaching and biological factors such as EEHV (elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses).
Of all three endangered species, the critically endangered Asian elephant is the most susceptible to EEHV. Thus, Colossal is focused on genetically modifying the genome of Asian elephants to increase their resistance to EEHV. The route to EEHV resistance comes through the de-extinction of the mammoth.
It’s impossible to regenerate the exact original version of an extinct species due to limitations in genome accessibility. To overcome this, Colossal is using the Asian elephant’s genome as the foundation for their modern mammoth. Right now, the company is ‘de-extincting’ core genes that will alter the Asian elephant’s genome to better reflect the phenotypes of ancient mammoths.
This is why the production of woolly mice is such exciting news. It means Colossal has successfully de-extinctified the gene necessary for the mammoth’s iconic shaggy brown coat. Eventually, one of the genetic modifications scientists hope to introduce into the Asian elephant’s genome is that of EEHV resistance. EEHV resistance for mammoths equates to EEHV resistance for Asian elephants.
Colossal’s second belief driving their mammoth mission is that the animals will ‘immediately restore the tundra’s role as a climate protector.’ In other words, their modern mammoth might help fight climate change. We don’t know much about mammoths, but what we do know is that they once lived in tundras dominated by grasslands.
Historically, tundras have been important in keeping atmospheric carbon dioxide levels low, storing more than one and a half times the current level of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Rising temperatures are now releasing this carbon as permafrost melts. In turn, this worsens the impact of climate change by releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and contributing to increasing temperatures. It’s an endless cycle of destruction–one that the modern mammoth may help break. The thought is that reintroducing mammoths would revive grasslands in tundra environments, enhancing their ability to function as carbon sinks.
The problem here is that we can’t just throw a species that’s been extinct for over 4,000 years back into its former ecosystem without facing severe repercussions. The tundra is a very delicate habitat that has already been thrown into disarray by climate change. Rising temperatures have pushed non-native species into tundra territory, increasing competition for native species like the Arctic fox. Are Colossal scientists willing to bring back the mammoth at the expense of current wildlife in the tundra?
While their website offers plenty of information on de-extinction methods, Colossal spends very little time discussing integration methods. What will be the environmental impacts of reintroducing mammoth’s to the tundra? How will this impact the existing food web? It’s difficult to predict when the only information we have on mammoths comes from fossil records. But, the company’s success with woolly mice indicates that the time to start seriously considering mammoth integration into modern environments is now.
As genetic engineers, it is their responsibility to ensure that the de-extinction of mammoths will not harm current tundra life. Colossal must begin this research now so that when the time comes, they can make the most ethical decision for existing wildlife. One of the defining characteristics of an ethical engineer is discipline–knowing when the ends of a project do not justify the means. Hopefully, Colossal will conduct the necessary research and act accordingly. Even if the mammoth mission is ultimately abandoned, Colossal is making significant contributions to elephant conservation and gene-editing technology, which will help advance the field.