Colossal Biosciences is working to rewrite history by bringing long extinct species back to life, and its focus is now on two of the most iconic creatures ever to walk the earth: the woolly mammoth and the dodo.
Ben Lamm, announced the birth of three genetically engineered dire wolves, a pivotal moment in the company’s quest to reverse extinction.
The two male pups, Romulus and Remus, arrived in October 2024, followed by their sister Khaleesi, born on January 30, 2025. While technically gray wolves by species, these animals have been genetically enhanced to express distinct characteristics of the long-lost dire wolf, an apex predator that roamed North America until its extinction over 12,000 years ago.
Far more than a symbolic gesture, this development highlights Colossal’s dual mission: to resurrect ancient species and to pioneer cutting-edge genetic techniques that may one day help conserve endangered wildlife still fighting for survival.
Ben Lamm’s Next Giant Step: From Dire Wolves to Mammoth-Skinned Mice
After successfully engineering the birth of dire wolves, Ben Lamm’s biotech venture, Colossal, has taken another leap forward—this time unveiling genetically modified mice that grow hair similar to that of the extinct woolly mammoth.
According to Colossal, this breakthrough confirms the team’s ability to precisely manipulate genes and express ancient traits in modern organisms. The so-called “woolly mice” serve as a living milestone in the company’s long-term goal: to bring the legendary woolly mammoth back to life.
Rather than being a flashy gimmick, the mice demonstrate functional validation—a crucial benchmark in de-extinction science. Colossal sees them as tangible progress toward their ultimate mission of restoring extinct species through applied genetics and synthetic biology.
“Colossal’s landmark de-extinction project will be the resurrection of the woolly mammoth, or more specifically a cold resistant elephant with all of the core biological traits of the woolly mammoth,” the company states. “It will walk like a woolly mammoth, look like one, sound like one, but most importantly it will be able to inhabit the same ecosystem previously abandoned by the mammoth’s extinction.”
One Step Closer to Bringing Back the Dodo
While the woolly mammoth project remains in its early phases, Colossal has also turned its attention to the avian world. In collaboration with filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson and the Ngai Tahu Research Centre, the company is pursuing the resurrection of the South Island Giant Moa, a towering bird that went extinct in the 15th century due to human predation.
“This partnership represents a new model where indigenous leadership guides scientific endeavors, recognizing that traditional ecological knowledge and cultural context are essential to responsible de-extinction and species preservation efforts,” Lamm explained. “There is so much knowledge that will be unlocked and shared on the journey to bring back the iconic moa.”
At the same time, Colossal’s Avian Genetics Group has achieved another major breakthrough: successfully growing pigeon primordial germ cells for the first time in history. This marks a pivotal step in the effort to resurrect the dodo.
“Our avian team’s breakthrough in deriving culture conditions that allow pigeon primordial germ cells to survive long term is a significant advancement for dodo de-extinction,” said Lamm. “This progress highlights how Colossal’s investment in de-extinction technology is driving discovery and developing tools for both our de-extinction and conservation efforts.”