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On Monday, Colossal Biosciences announced a groundbreaking achievement in its quest for de-extinction: the successful creation of three dire wolf puppies.
This milestone contributed to the company’s impressive valuation of $10.2 billion, placing it among a select group of “decacorns,” companies with valuations exceeding $10 billion.
Colossal Biosciences, a leader in biotechnology with a focus on reversing extinction, made headlines with its recent success in resurrecting the dire wolf, as reported by CNN. Earlier this year, the company secured $200 million in Series C funding, enhancing its financial standing and market potential.
Founded in 2021, Colossal’s flagship initiative aims to bring back the woolly mammoth, a majestic creature that has been extinct for thousands of years. Although fully achieving this goal remains a work in progress, Time highlights that the company is making substantial strides, including the breeding of woolly mice as a precursor to the mammoth project.
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Despite skepticism surrounding the feasibility of Colossal’s ambitious plans, the recent success with dire wolves acts as a pivotal point in validating both their scientific capability and valuation.
The dire wolf, an apex predator that once inhabited North America, surpassed the size of modern grey wolves before its extinction approximately 12,500 years ago. Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal, shared with CNN that the company successfully utilized DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to produce these healthy dire wolf puppies. “This massive milestone is merely the first of many in demonstrating that our comprehensive de-extinction technology works,” he stated.
The three puppies are currently being raised by domestic dog surrogates in a secure 2,000-acre area, which is protected by 10-foot-tall fencing. To ensure their welfare and security, the site is closely monitored through security personnel, drones, and live camera feeds. Furthermore, their habitat has received certification from the American Humane Society and is registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Before this announcement, Colossal had kept its plans for the dire wolf somewhat under wraps, possibly due to anticipated criticism. Concerns about their projects have been voiced by experts like Christopher Preston, an environmental philosophy professor at the University of Montana, who raised questions about whether the financial resources allocated for de-extinction could be better spent elsewhere. He also cautioned that introducing resurrected creatures could threaten current ecosystems.
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“Colossal has been careful to implement measures that screen for unintended genetic consequences of their work, reducing the chances of negative outcomes,” Preston mentioned. “It is difficult to envision a scenario where dire wolves would be reintroduced into the wild to fulfill an ecological niche, which raises questions about the purpose these new animals will serve.”
In addition to its de-extinction efforts, Colossal aims to leverage its advancements to aid endangered species. The company has reported success using their less invasive cloning techniques to produce two litters of red wolves, currently the most endangered wolf species.
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This article De-Extinction Company Colossal Biosciences Has Resurrected the Dire Wolf, Validating Its $10.2 Billion Valuation originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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