Colossal Biosciences Secures $120M to Advance Dodo De‑Extinction and Conservation Tech
— If successful, the return of the dodo bird could mark not just the revival of a species, but a shift in how humanity approaches its responsibility to the planet.
Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech company, has raised $120 million in Series B funding to accelerate its mission of de-extinction, including bringing back the dodo bird. With total funding now exceeding $225 million and a valuation above $10 billion, Colossal is redefining how synthetic biology and genomics can transform conservation.
Company Background
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Founders: Ben Lamm (serial entrepreneur) and George Church (Harvard geneticist)
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Mission: Use synthetic biology and genomic science to revive extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and now the dodo bird.
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Valuation: Over $10 billion as of the latest funding round.
Scientific Progress: The Dodo Bird Project
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Challenge: Birds cannot be cloned using mammalian techniques.
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Breakthrough: Colossal’s researchers successfully cultured primordial germ cells (PGCs) from pigeons.
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Approach:
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Genetically edit PGCs
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Implant them into surrogate birds
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Develop viable offspring with dodo-specific traits
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Closest living relative: The Nicobar pigeon, used as the genetic foundation for the project.
Broader Conservation Goals
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Mauritius Dodo Advisory Committee: Partnership with conservationists, scientists, and government officials to guide ecological responsibility in reintroduction plans.
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Conservation Tech: Applying genomic tools not just for de-extinction, but also for protecting endangered species through reproductive and genetic innovation.
Funding and Investor Confidence
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Series B Raised: $120 million
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Total Funding: $225+ million
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Key Investors: Life sciences, AI, and sustainability backers
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Use of Funds:
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Scale avian genome engineering
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Expand research infrastructure
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Build global partnerships
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Leadership Insight
Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal:
“De-extinction isn’t about science fiction; it’s about ecological restoration and future-proofing biodiversity.”
FAQs
Q) How much funding has Colossal Biosciences raised?
Over $225 million, including $120M in Series B.
Q) What species is Colossal working to revive?
Projects include the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo bird.
Q) Why is reviving the dodo more complex than mammals?
Birds cannot be cloned; instead, Colossal uses genetically edited germ cells implanted into surrogate birds.
Q) What is the ecological goal of this work?
Beyond de-extinction, Colossal’s technology supports conservation of endangered species and biodiversity restoration.
Conclusion
Colossal Biosciences’ $120 million raise signals both scientific momentum and investor confidence in de-extinction. The potential return of the dodo is more than symbolic, it marks a new era where biotechnology bridges extinction and survival, reshaping humanity’s role in ecological responsibility.
External reference: Colossal Biosciences
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