This is Ryuta Hamamoto from TIMEWELL Inc.
Introduction — "Jurassic Park" Is Becoming Reality
The revival of extinct animals, as depicted in the film Jurassic Park, long belonged to the realm of science fiction. But in January 2026, American biotech company Colossal Biosciences shocked the world by announcing the birth of "Manny" — a baby elephant bearing woolly mammoth traits.
The vision articulated by CEO Ben Lamm extends far beyond simply reviving extinct animals. It's an ambitious undertaking that encompasses cancer treatment, solutions to the plastic problem, extending human longevity, and even applications for space colonization.
This article covers Colossal Biosciences' latest developments and explores the future that biotechnology could open for humanity.
What Is Colossal Biosciences?
Colossal Biosciences was founded in 2021 by Ben Lamm and Harvard Professor George Church.
Company Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas |
| CEO | Ben Lamm |
| Co-founder | Professor George Church (Harvard University) |
| Valuation | $10.2 billion (~¥1.5 trillion; Texas's first decacorn) |
| Total Funding | Over $200 million (through Series C) |
| Mission | Reviving extinct animals and preserving biodiversity through synthetic biology |
In January 2025, the company raised $200 million (~¥30 billion) in its Series C round, reaching a valuation of $10.2 billion — making it Texas's first decacorn (a startup valued at over $10 billion).
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From the Woolly Mouse to Manny — The Road to De-Extinction
The Woolly Mouse Breakthrough
Colossal's first major milestone was the "woolly mouse", announced in March 2025.
By editing mouse genes to incorporate mammoth genes related to fur characteristics, researchers created mice with long, curly-like coats. The team successfully achieved multiplex genome editing — modifying 7 genes simultaneously — producing mice with fur color, texture, and thickness resembling the core phenotypes of a woolly mammoth.
The research involved computational analysis of the genomes of 59 mammoths ranging from 3,500 to over 1.2 million years old to identify key target genes.
Manny — A Baby Elephant with Mammoth Traits
On January 30, 2026, Colossal announced the birth of "Manny" — the culmination of the company's flagship mission.
Manny is an Indian elephant (the living species most closely related to the mammoth) that has been given mammoth traits — such as reddish-brown fur — through gene editing. He was named after a character from the movie "Ice Age."
The scientific community has raised questions, noting that Manny is "not a true mammoth revival, but a genetically modified elephant with mammoth traits." Active debate continues around the definition and ethics of "de-extinction" technology.
How Extinct Animal Genetic Data Could Transform Medicine
CEO Lamm repeatedly emphasizes that reviving extinct animals also holds the key to solving human medical challenges.
Applications for Cancer Treatment
Elephants are known to have an exceptionally low cancer rate relative to their body size and lifespan — a phenomenon called "Peto's Paradox," thought to be caused by the abundance of tumor suppressor proteins in elephant genes.
Since mammoth genes are closely related to elephant genes, information from the mammoth genome may yield insights useful for cancer treatment.
Other Medical and Environmental Applications
| Application Area | Potential |
|---|---|
| Cancer treatment | Analysis and application of mammoth/elephant tumor suppressor genes |
| Longevity research | Identification of longevity-related genes from extinct animals |
| Plastic degradation | Gene-modified microorganisms from the Amazon to break down plastics rapidly |
| Climate-resilient crops | Development of crops resistant to drought and salt damage |
| Artificial womb | Artificial womb technology for protecting endangered species |
Preserving Biodiversity — Multiple De-Extinction Projects Underway
Colossal is simultaneously pursuing de-extinction projects for multiple species beyond the mammoth.
Active Projects
| Target Species | Status |
|---|---|
| Woolly Mammoth | Manny born; goal to produce a full mammoth-type calf by 2028 |
| Dodo | Project ongoing |
| Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) | Project ongoing |
| Northern White Rhino | Research underway to incorporate Northern White Rhino genes into Southern White Rhino |
| Dire Wolf | Latest project featured in TIME magazine |
CEO Lamm has expressed urgency: "Half of Earth's species could go extinct by 2050," adding that "our goal is to save as many species as possible from extinction."
The Future Possibilities of Biotechnology
Colossal's technology is expected to have applications across many fields in the coming years.
Applications for Space Exploration
By genetically engineering animals and plants capable of surviving in the harsh conditions of other planets, the company could help support colonization of other worlds. Developing organisms with cold-resistance and radiation-resistance could become an important element of space exploration.
Contributions to Food Security
There is also potential for contributing to stable food supply — developing drought and salt-resistant crops, and creating technology to produce animal proteins in plants.
Ethical Challenges
On the other hand, de-extinction raises significant ethical questions:
- How to ensure the welfare of revived animals
- How to manage impacts on ecosystems
- How far to extend the application of genetic modification technology
- Intellectual property issues (MIT Technology Review has reported that Colossal is attempting to patent mammoth-related technologies)
As CEO Lamm puts it: "Our technology has the potential to help solve every challenge humanity faces. What matters is using that potential ethically and wisely."
WARP AI Consulting — The Convergence of Biotechnology and AI
As the Colossal Biosciences case demonstrates, cutting-edge biotechnology is inseparable from AI — in genome analysis, simulation, and beyond. Leveraging technology is increasingly decisive for corporate competitiveness across all industries.
TIMEWELL's WARP AI Consulting provides companies with strategies for applying advanced technology:
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Summary
- Colossal Biosciences announced the birth of "Manny" — a baby elephant with woolly mammoth traits — in January 2026
- The 2025 woolly mouse breakthrough demonstrated multiplex genome editing with 7 simultaneous gene modifications
- The company raised $200 million in Series C funding, reaching a valuation of $10.2 billion (Texas's first decacorn)
- Genetic data from extinct animals holds broad application potential: cancer treatment, longevity research, plastic degradation, food security
- Multiple de-extinction projects are underway beyond the mammoth: dodo, Tasmanian tiger, dire wolf, and more
- Active debate continues around ethical questions including animal welfare, ecosystem impact, and intellectual property
References
- Colossal Biosciences Official Site
- Baby Manny announcement - Technology.org
- Colossal Biosciences - Wikipedia
- Woolly Mouse breakthrough - CRISPR Medicine
- Colossal $200M funding - SAN
- How Colossal is attempting to own the "woolly mammoth" - MIT Technology Review