Colossal Biosciences

Colossal Biosciences is a biotechnology company founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and Harvard geneticist George Church. Its mission is to combat extinction and restore lost biodiversity by developing the tools, technologies, and processes necessary for de-extinction, conservation, and ecosystem revitalization. The company focuses on reconstructing the genomes of extinct species—beginning with the woolly mammoth, thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), and dodo—and applying advanced gene editing, artificial wombs, and cellular reprogramming techniques to revive and reintroduce these keystone animals to their natural habitats.Colossal operates as both a de-extinction platform and technology company, with over 170 scientists, 16 partner labs, and dozens of conservation collaborations globally. Its breakthroughs include assembling near-complete ancient genomes, pioneering synthetic biology spinoffs, and building artificial uterus prototypes to support embryonic development. In addition to species restoration, Colossal’s genomic and cellular engineering has applications in conservation biology, disease research, synthetic biology, and beyond. The company aspires to reshape the future of conservation through scalable, commercially viable biotechnology.