Photo courtesy of Colossal.
Ever wanted to see a woolly mammoth? If the answer is yes, you’re not the only one.
Neighbor and emerging technology and software entrepreneur Ben Lamm partnered with geneticist and serial biotech entrepreneur George Church to launch Colossal. The bioscience and genetics company has already raised $15 million to bring back woolly mammoths from extinction, according to a press release.
Colossal will use CRISPR gene-editing technology to create the mammoths and help save critically endangered species, combatting climate change through ecosystem restoration. Specifically, it will support research in Church’s lab at Harvard Medical School to make an elephant-mammoth hybrid that is genetically engineered with traits to help it survive in the Arctic tundra.
“Never before has humanity been able to harness the power of this technology to rebuild ecosystems, heal our Earth and preserve its future through the repopulation of extinct animals,” Lamm said in the release. “In addition to bringing back ancient extinct species like the woolly mammoth, we will be able to leverage our technologies to help preserve critically endangered species that are on the verge of extinction and restore animals where humankind had a hand in their demise.”
In the past, Lamm has been the CEO of Hypergiant, Conversable and Chaotic Moon, and he was the co-founder of Team Chaos. He’s a fellow of the Explorer’s Club and serves as a Scientific Advisory Board member and is on the advisory board for the Arch Mission.
