Cardano founder wants blockchain to play a role in making it possible for the woolly mammoth to walk the Earth again in a few years
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of the Cardano blockchain, backed Colossal, a biotech start-up that wants to resurrect the woolly mammoth.
The “de-extinction” company has an ambitious goal to bring the majestic animal back from extinction by 2027 with the help of the cutting-edge CRISPR gene-editing technology.
Harvard Medical School professor George Church launched Colossal with tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm in September 2021 after initially raising $15 million in seed funding.
A colossal goal
Hoskinson participated in the start-up’s recently announced $60 million Series A led by Legendary Entertainment CEO Thomas Tull. Crypto-friendly socialite Paris Hilton also invested in Colossal, along with a slew of venture capital firms.
There have been years of research into how to revive an extinct species by juxtaposing DNA samples extracted from fossils with those of their modern counterparts. Church has spent more than 10 years working to bring the woolly mammoth to life. The gene-editing pioneer continues to work on a mammoth embryo that will be based on the elephant genome.
Where does crypto fit into “de-extinction?” Hoskinson claims that blockchain can be utilized for crowdfunding and intellectual property (IP) management.
No “Jurassic Park”
The founders of Colossal have repeatedly emphasized that their goal is to reverse the biodiversity collapse that has occurred on Earth. They are also considering potentially combating melting permafrost.
Some critics, however, warn that the resurrection of extinct animals comes with various ethical concerns. Others say that it would be more prudent to invest in preserving endangered species.
While woolly mammoths generate flashy headlines, that’s not Colossal’s only focus. The company also works to preserve endangered species such as the white rhinoceros.
