Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors
Tom Brady, Paris Hilton, Tiger Woods, and Peter Jackson are just some of the A-list names attached to Colossal Biosciences, which has once again captured the world’s attention — this time with the unveiling of their “woolly mouse.”
While the company’s grand vision of de-extincting the woolly mammoth continues to dominate headlines, this smaller, furrier achievement represents a significant step forward and a powerful tool for inspiring the next generation of scientists.
Newsweek spoke with Ben Lamm, the billionaire CEO and co-founder of Colossal who shared the excitement of finally being able to talk about the creature. “It is really a validation of our team’s incredible work coupled for a society that is excited about fun, inspiring science,” he told Newsweek. “It is not our job to get people excited or persuade anyone, just to be transparent about the extinction crisis we are in and what the incredible women and men at Colossal are doing to try to combat it. It’s humbling to see so many people share our passion and excitement for de-extinction and species preservation.”
The woolly mouse is not a mere novelty. It’s a testament to the company’s progress in manipulating complex genetic traits. But with virality and headlines comes criticism, and while some critics have said that true de-extinction is still years away, Lamm feels otherwise.
Colossal Biosciences
“We have a history of running towards critics and not away from them. Some of our biggest critics from the beginning — like Beth Shapiro, Love Dalen, and Tom Gilbert — are now all collaborators working with Colossal. We are working on functional de-extinction, and it is much closer than people think. I really think the proof will be in the coming years of what Colossal is able to achieve. “
Lamm continued: “I think some will always only be satisfied with an exact clone of an extinct species which isn’t possible. While you cannot clone an extinct species, you can engineer them with the de-extinction of core genes and phenotypes as well as enhancing the species for survival today. We think of functional de-extinction as almost rebuilding extinct species for today.”
Colossal Chief Science Officer Beth Shapiro told Newsweek that “the woolly mouse project confirms that our combined approach of trait engineering, drawing from ancient DNA along with standing variation in an existing population, can result in a predicted phenotype. It shows that our approach to combine different modalities for multiplex gene editing is effective.”
The innovation of science and genetics isn’t just a hit with celebrities; the company’s appeal to children is undeniable. By presenting science as a dynamic and exciting pursuit, Colossal fosters a sense of wonder and curiosity. Lamm is passionate about science being for everyone — especially kids.
In today’s world, Lamm believes that kids “do not often read the scientific journals” because “the science community is often ‘for scientists, by scientists’ and not always approachable for younger generations or people who are not scientists to begin with.”
Colossal, however, Lamm explained, “has a sci-fi-like feeling to it that gets the younger generations excited about science.”
Colossal Biosciences
“Every week, we get kids of all ages and their parents sending us drawings of mammoths or dodos and thanking us for inspiring their children,” he shared with Newsweek, adding: “The youth of today also learn from the cultural influencers and celebrities in our society. We are so lucky that so many top celebrities have invested or wanted to be involved in Colossal. Our commitment to education and inspiration, coupled with incredible celebrity partners, help reach more and more youthful minds that will hopefully grow up to be the scientists of tomorrow.”
Beyond the immediate fascination, the woolly mouse sparks important conversations about the role of science in addressing global climate challenges. As Shapiro told Newsweek, “Given that our mission is to make extinction a thing of the past, application of our technologies to protect living endangered species is one of our main motivations. Every animal that is a candidate for de-extinction faces a different set of technical, ethical, and ecological challenges to overcome along that path. From start to finish in the de-extinction process, there will be examples of innovations that can be immediately applied to biodiversity conservation,” she said. “And we’re only just getting started!”
The woolly mouse is a small creature with a big impact. It’s a symbol of scientific innovation, a catalyst for educational engagement, and a reminder that even the most ambitious dreams can be realized. Colossal Biosciences is not just rewriting the history of life; they are inspiring a new generation to shape its future.