“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

So spoke Ian Malcolm in the 1993 sci-fi dinosaur film Jurassic Park. But in the past few decades, his declaration has become a reality. Texas-based biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences has announced that it aims to revive the extinct mammoth by 2028 and plans to target several other extinct species, including the dodo and the Tasmanian tiger. While the science involved is advancing rapidly, ecological, ethical, and conservation-related questions are also being raised.

What’s de-extinction? De-extinction, or the process of reviving extinct species, has made leaps in recent decades. Techniques such as genome editing have made it possible to insert genes from extinct species into closely related modern animals, enabling us to “revive” what once was. However, despite widespread optimism in the science, only one animal to date has been successfully revived through de-extinction–and only momentarily. A pyrenean ibex, extinct since 2000, was born in 2003 through genetic cloning. Unfortunately, it passed away only minutes after birth due to a lung defect.

For woolly mammoths, Colossal plans to insert mammoth traits—like thick fur and fat deposits—into the DNA of Asian elephants, their closest living relatives. The calves, though not exact clones of mammoths, will be hybrids genetically engineered to resemble them.

According to Colossal, these revived animals could help restore ecosystems such as Arctic grasslands, which store more carbon and support permafrost stability better than current tundra landscapes. Supporters also highlight that de-extinction can aid in advancing genetic technology with broader applications, such as conserving endangered species. In fact, Colossal’s research has already contributed to improved DNA sequencing techniques; in 2022, Colossal was able to fully sequence the Asian elephant genome, which marked the most completely sequenced mammalian genetic code since the Human Genome Project in the 2000s.

Ben Lamm, co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, has expressed that he sees the project as a form of progress towards a solution for the “massive biodiversity crisis” the earth is experiencing. This suggests that perhaps de-extinction is one way to compensate for the damage human expansion has resulted in, especially when many extinctions in recent years have been largely caused by human activity. One such animal is the northern white rhino, whose functional extinction in 2011 was heavily attributed to poaching. The northern white rhino is also one of Colossal’s targets for reintroduction.

Despite all its promise, de-extinction is fraught with challenges. How will the de-extinct species reintegrate into the ecosystems they once thrived in? Who decides how these animals will be used or protected? Currently, one major concern is whether reintroduced species will thrive or cause unforeseen ecological disruptions. For instance, while mammoths once helped maintain grasslands by trampling snow and dispersing nutrients, the same behavior now could potentially destroy permafrost during warm seasons. On the other hand, it’s likely that reintroduced species will not be introduced in sufficient numbers to make an ecological impact at all. In this case, critics argue, Colossal may be better off focusing its energies and resources on conserving species currently on the brink of extinction instead. Yale ecologist Oswald Schmitz notes that existing animals like dingoes could fill roles once held by extinct predators like the Tasmanian tiger. “What’s gone is gone,” Schmitz told Live Science. 

So what’s the verdict? The possibility of de-extinction now sits at the intersection of cutting-edge science and environmental ethics, potentially promising a future where the past can be brought back to life. However, as experts emphasize, the potential benefits must be weighed against the significant risks and opportunity costs. The true challenge lies in ensuring that the animals’ return—and the resources spent achieving it—actually benefits the planet.

For now, the world watches as Colossal crawls closer to an unprecedented milestone: reversing extinction itself. Whether this will be a triumph or a cautionary tale remains to be seen.