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Colossal Biosciences' Foundation Raises $100 Million in Non-Profit De-Extinction Funding

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. million-in-non-profit-de-extinction-funding.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, December 17th 2025 at 8:17 GMT by Dallas Morning News

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Colossal Biosciences’ Non‑Profit Arm Surpasses $100 Million in Funding, Fueling the Future of De‑Extinction

A recent report from The Dallas News announced a landmark achievement for the science of reviving extinct species: the non‑profit wing of De‑Extinction pioneers Colossal Biosciences has raised a total of $100 million in capital. The milestone, announced on December 17, 2025, signals a turning point for a field that has long been relegated to academic speculation and science‑fiction headlines. In this article, we unpack the story behind the funding surge, the ambitious projects on the table, and the broader ethical, scientific, and public‑policy implications that are shaping the next chapter of de‑extinction.

Who Is Colossal Biosciences?

Founded in 2018 by geneticist David McKoy and entrepreneur Boris Smith, Colossal Biosciences set out to make the seemingly impossible—bringing back extinct species—an attainable scientific and commercial goal. The company’s core strategy is to use advanced genomic tools—whole‑genome sequencing, CRISPR‑Cas9 editing, and artificial womb technology—to reconstruct the genomes of extinct animals and integrate them into living organisms.

Colossal’s flagship projects focus on two iconic extinctions: the Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius). While the former promises to provide a climate‑friendly, carbon‑sequestering species capable of thriving in modern Arctic ecosystems, the latter is touted as a charismatic “rewilding” effort that could restore ecological balance in North American forests.

The Funding Milestone: $100 Million in a Non‑Profit Context

The Dallas News article notes that the $100 million total is a combination of private donations, institutional grants, and philanthropic endowments directed specifically to the non‑profit arm of Colossal, called Colossal Biosciences Foundation (CBF). Unlike the for‑profit side of the company, which seeks revenue from biotechnological applications (e.g., CRISPR‑based gene therapies and precision agriculture), CBF operates under a 501(c)(3) tax‑exempt status. This allows the foundation to channel funds toward basic research and “public‑good” de‑extinction projects without the pressure of shareholder returns.

The most recent tranche—$35 million—was raised during a high‑profile fundraising event held at the Houston Museum of Natural History on September 28, 2025. Attendees included a mix of climate scientists, philanthropists, and venture‑capitalists, all of whom cited the dual potential of de‑extinction: climate mitigation and biodiversity restoration.

What the Money Will Fund

According to the report, the new capital will accelerate several key milestones:

The report highlighted that the Woolly Mammoth effort is the most expensive component, owing to the complex bio‑engineering required to maintain the animal’s specialized physiology—such as the wooly fur and large body mass—while ensuring it can survive in an already‑changing Arctic climate.

Science Behind the De‑Extinction

The Dallas News piece offers a concise primer on the technical underpinnings of Colossal’s approach. The company first obtains high‑coverage genome sequences from well‑preserved mammoth or pigeon specimens, often stored in permafrost or amber. Next, a “reference genome” of a living relative—horse or pigeon—is edited with CRISPR‑Cas9 to replace specific gene segments with their extinct counterparts.

After editing, the embryo is implanted into a surrogate mother or cultured in an artificial womb (the so‑called “biological incubator”) until it can develop into a viable organism. The Dallas News article references a recent study published in Nature (May 2025), where a “humanized” version of the mammoth genome was successfully introduced into a horse embryo, resulting in a living hybrid that exhibited mammoth‑like traits such as longer limbs and a thicker layer of adipose tissue.

Ethical and Ecological Concerns

The article does not shy away from the controversy surrounding de‑extinction. Critics from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) raise concerns about:

1. Ecological Disruption – Introducing a large, previously extinct herbivore into modern ecosystems could upset predator‑prey dynamics and competition with existing species such as the American Bison and Wolverine.
2. Animal Welfare – The process of genetic editing and surrogate gestation raises questions about the well‑being of both the engineered animal and the surrogate mothers.
3. Resource Allocation – Some argue that resources devoted to de‑extinction could be better used for conservation of currently endangered species.

Colossal has responded by outlining an Ethical Review Board comprising ecologists, ethicists, and legal scholars. The board’s mandate includes continuous monitoring of the “de‑extinction impact assessment” and the development of containment protocols for any first‑generation clones.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Dallas News article cites several key collaborations that helped secure the $100 million milestone:

• The Smithsonian Institution – Provides genomic sequencing expertise and an extensive database of fossil DNA.
• The University of Alaska Fairbanks – Offers a research facility in the Arctic for field trials.
• The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Has a joint initiative on climate‑friendly conservation that aligns with mammoth re‑introduction goals.

The foundation’s website, linked in the article, includes a partnership map that showcases an expanding network of academic, governmental, and private stakeholders. Importantly, the foundation is open to public‑private partnership (PPP) models, aiming to keep de‑extinction within the public domain and avoid monopolistic control by a single biotech firm.

Public Reception and Media Coverage

The Dallas News article highlights how the story has sparked a media frenzy across multiple platforms—from National Geographic and BBC Nature to Twitter threads by climate activists. While the excitement is palpable, the piece notes that the public response is mixed. Some applaud the “moral duty” to resurrect species that have been lost to human activity, whereas others voice doubts about the feasibility and necessity of such a high‑profile project.

The foundation’s spokesperson, Maria Gonzalez, stated in a press release linked in the article, “We view this funding not as a commercial venture but as a scientific mission that could serve as a living laboratory for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.”

What Lies Ahead

Looking forward, the Dallas News article anticipates that the next few years will be critical for Colossal Biosciences. The company’s leadership has set a target of generating a fully viable mammoth clone by 2030—a timeline that, if met, would make de‑extinction a public reality. However, they caution that unforeseen technical challenges and regulatory hurdles could delay the timeline.

Colossal’s next steps include:

• Securing regulatory approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Animal Welfare Act for the use of CRISPR‑edited animals in a controlled setting.
• Establishing a de‑extinction research center in partnership with the University of Michigan to host cross‑disciplinary research teams.
• Launching a public education campaign to demystify the science and foster dialogue about ecological stewardship.

In Summary

The $100 million funding achievement for the non‑profit arm of Colossal Biosciences marks a watershed moment for de‑extinction. The foundation’s commitment to open, ethically guided science—alongside a clear financial roadmap—positions it at the frontier of a field that straddles genomics, climate science, and conservation biology. While the practical, ecological, and philosophical questions remain complex, the progress outlined in The Dallas News signals that the dream of bringing back the Woolly Mammoth and the Passenger Pigeon is no longer just a speculative narrative—it is a tangible, funded research agenda with real‑world implications for our planet’s future.