Towards a modern Jurassic Park ? A company relies on DNA to recreate extinct species

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Will yesterday's myths become reality in Colossal's labs? Bioscience ? This Texas company has just completed a spectacular fundraising of 200 million dollars, propelling its valuation to 10.2 billion dollars. Its objective: to bring back to the life of extinct species. An ambitious project of ” de-extinction » which is accompanied by some questions about the ethical and scientific limits of genetic manipulation.

In the mysteries of genetic resurrection

The scientific team at the Colossal Bioscience laboratory in Texas has implemented a genetic engineering protocol to reconstruct the genome of the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), which disappeared about 10,000 years ago. A necessarily very complex process, articulated around several distinct phases.

The process begins with the extraction of ancient DNA from samples taken from permafrost, the permanently frozen soil found in polar regions. These genetic fragments, dating back more than 4,000 years, will undergo complete sequencing to identify the mammoth's specific genes. The main difficulty lies in the fragmentation and natural degradation of this fossil DNA.

The second phase involves using Asian elephant cells (Elephas maximus) as a biological substrate. The researchers will use genome editing techniques to modify these cells. The goal is to integrate the previously identified genetic sequences of the mammoth, while preserving cell viability.

Ben Lamm, CEO of the company, sets the horizon of 2028 for the birth of a first specimenThis deadline requires the mastery of several fundamental technical aspects. Researchers must first validate the entirety of the genetic modifications carried out, guaranteeing their stability and functionality within the modified genome. At the same time, the development of viable embryos is a critical step in the process, requiring a complete understanding of the mechanisms of embryonic development specific to proboscidean mammals (animals characterized by a trunk).

The scientific team is also working on the development of a gestation protocol adapted to surrogate elephants, taking into account their physiological particularities and their specific needs during the gestation period.

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A controversial renaissance

The scientific community observes these developments with caution. Karl Flessa, a paleontologist at the University of Arizona, questions the genetic authenticity of the future creatures, which are derived from modified Asian elephant cells. He also points to the fragility of current ecosystems, including the melting of the Arctic tundra, the natural habitat of the woolly mammoth.

To address these concerns, Colossal Biosciences plans to move its creaturesto secure, monitored reserves. We would therefore potentially be witnessing the construction of a real Jurassic Park.

But the company, with this large amount of funding, is not limiting its activity to this slightly crazy project. Co-founded with Harvard geneticist George Church, the latter has already proven his skills by creating a vaccine against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus. A very dangerous virus that can cause an often fatal hemorrhagic disease in young Asian elephants. Colossal Bioscience therefore has other goals in sight.

It diversifies its activities through several subsidiaries, including Breaking, specialized in the degradation of plastic waste, and Form Bio Inc., focused on the development of computational software. In addition, the $50 million Colossal Foundation works to preserve endangered species such as the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus).

The colossal funding secured by Colossal Biosciences, with TWG Global and In-Q-Tel as lead investors, is a signal that should not be ignored. The private sector is increasingly interested in cutting-edge biotechnologies. However, we are entitled to ask ourselves a very simple question: why? These advances; impressive from a technical point of view; do they justify the astronomical sums invested in the resurrection of extinct species’nbsp;? Doesn't the preservation of currently threatened species deserve an equivalent mobilization of financial and technological resources ?

• A Texas company wants to use gene editing to try to bring back extinct species, such as the woolly mammoth, with a deadline of 2028.
• This ambitious project raises questions about its scientific, ethical and environmental implications, including the viability of the recreated animals.
• At the same time, the company is developing technologies to preserve endangered species and exploring other biotechnological innovations.

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