Reviving the Dodo: Colossal Biosciences Raises $120M for De-Extinction Science
Colossal Biosciences, a biotech startup focused on bringing extinct species back to life, has raised $120 million in an extension of a funding round announced earlier this year, bringing its total valuation to $10.3 billion . Investors in the latest round include filmmaker Peter Jackson , ARCH Venture Partners co-founder Robert Nelsen , and the US Innovative Technology Fund. The company’s total funding to date now exceeds $555 million .
The Dallas-based company is perhaps best known for its ambitious goal of resurrecting the dodo bird , a species that vanished in the 17th century. Colossal recently announced it has successfully grown primordial germ cells from pigeons , the dodo’s closest living relative, in the lab. Unlike mammals, birds cannot be cloned using traditional techniques, so the team is creating these germ cells to eventually produce the sperm and eggs needed to bring the next generation of dodos to life. CEO Ben Lamm said the company now expects to achieve this milestone within five to seven years .
Colossal’s work extends beyond the dodo. The company has already produced woolly mice as part of its broader mission to explore de-extinction and conservation science and has successfully created three dire wolf pups , a species extinct for over 12,000 years. The startup also aims to generate new usable science along the way, spinning off ventures in plastic-waste degradation and software , which have collectively raised tens of millions.
Through its research, Colossal hopes to push the boundaries of genetics, conservation, and applied biotechnology, showing that ambitious goals in de-extinction can intersect with practical advances in science and environmental preservation.
Source:
A.M.
