Conservation and Revival: Colossal Biosciences’ Colossal Task

According to the World Wildlife Fund, planet Earth is going through a sixth extinction crisis — and it’s all our fault. Says the world’s largest conservation organization, “Unlike previous extinction events caused by natural phenomena, the sixth mass extinction is driven by human activity, primarily (though not limited to) the unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change.” Thankfully, Colossal Biosciences, a first-of-its-kind de-extinction and genetic engineering company, has stepped into the ring to join the fight to save the globe, and reviving the long-gone dodo — as outlandish as that might seem — is one of the steps Colossal is taking as it resurrects the past to rescue the future.

Colossal Biosciences is led by Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO, and George Church, Ph.D., co-founder and lead geneticist. Church is a professor at Harvard and MIT and a well-recognized leader in genomics. Lamm is a serial entrepreneur known for building disruptive technologies to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.

The two joined forces to harness the power of technology and engineering to advance bioscience and genetics. The company believes that humanity must restore our home to a healthier state.

Guided by this principle, Colossal is trying to de-extinct the dodo, the Tasmanian tiger, and the woolly mammoth. Colossal’s project to revive the flightless bird may be its biggest challenge; however, it will have a profoundly positive impact on avian genomics and conservation.

Bird’s-Eye View

The dodo revival project is led by Beth Shapiro, Ph.D., who also serves as Colossal’s lead Paleogeneticist . She is a professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz and HHMI Investigator . She specializes in extracting DNA from the remains of dead animals, a skill that will prove vital to the success of Colossal’s de-extinction projects. And she’s making remarkable progress. Shapiro’s already led a team of researchers to sequence the DNA of a dodo extracted from a museum exhibit.

Though it’s not possible to create an exact DNA replica, the team will be splicing the dodo’s genes into that of a Nicobar pigeon, its closest relative, to create a hybrid. To do this, Colossal will have to create high-quality avian genomes, which will be used to guide the gene-editing process. The hybrid primordial germ cells will then be transferred into a surrogate chicken host.

While this may sound easy on paper, Colossal is well aware of the level of difficulty, which is why it’s committed to excellence and integrity. The research and development are guided by rigorous methodology, unbiased analysis, and transparency. To do this, a scientific advisory board has been established.

“We’re clearly in the middle of an extinction crisis, and it’s our responsibility to bring stories and to bring excitement to people in a way that motivates them to think about the extinction crisis that’s going on right now,” Shapiro told CNN.

Shapiro is well aware that reviving the dodo won’t solve the extinction crisis. But the pursuit of this project will help Colossal develop technologies that will greatly assist with avian conservation. For instance, if Colossal can successfully conduct an interspecies germ line transfer of primordial germ cells into a surrogate chicken host, then humanity may be able to save many other birds at the risk of extinction.

This is why the dodo de-extinction project isn’t a backyard science project to tickle the fancies of a few scientists and science fiction fans. The ultimate aim is to restore the ecosystems of these animals to their former states of existence and restore the balance that humans upended.

Given the extinction crisis’ global impact, Colossal has set up a conservation board composed of world leaders in science, genetics, ecology, industry, and law to find a global solution. By building an inclusive team, Colossal seeks to harness the benefits of worldwide viewpoints. It’s also hoped that a diverse workforce will ensure sufficient community engagement so that the conservation efforts are responsive to different cultural perspectives and knowledge.

Colossal counts Alta Charo as a valued advisor. The Warren P. Knowles Professor Emerita of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, also advises the World Health Organization’s expert advisory committee on the global governance of genome editing.

By bringing in experienced individuals from diverse backgrounds, Lamm has ensured that Colossal is equipped for any challenge that it may encounter in the company’s journey to make the planet a healthier place again.

“I think this is an opportunity where, given the man-made nature of the extinction of the dodo, man could not only bring the dodo back but also fix what was done to parts of the ecosystem to reintroduce them. There’s a lot of benefits from a conservation perspective,” Lamm said in an interview with Vice.

There’s no doubt that the conservation of animals and ecosystems needs urgent attention. It’s reassuring to know that individuals and companies are dedicating their time and resources to resolving this global issue. Colossal has received a lot of coverage in the past year, which has helped the company to raise the funds needed to make its preservation and innovation efforts a reality.