Colossal Biosciences Acquires Pet Cloning Company to Advance De-Extinction Efforts

Colossal Biosciences Acquires Pet Cloning Company to Advance De-Extinction Efforts

Colossal Biosciences, a leading “de-extinction” startup, has acquired ViaGen, a Texas-based company specializing in cloning pets, in a move aimed at advancing its mission to revive long-lost species. The acquisition marks Colossal’s first-ever purchase and brings under its wing ViaGen’s expertise in cloning and preserving genetic samples from endangered species. ViaGen has successfully cloned endangered species like Przewalski’s horses, according to Colossal Biosciences. Elizabeth Arellano Photography/Courtesy Colossal Biosciences

Colossal CEO Ben Lamm emphasized that the acquisition was not motivated by celebrity pet cloning, but rather by ViaGen’s expertise in cloning and preserving genetic samples from endangered species. ViaGen has previously deployed cloning technologies to produce genetic twins of animals like the black-footed ferret and Przewalski’s horse, with the latter being successfully cloned from cryopreserved tissue, marking a milestone in conservation cloning. According to a study published in the journal Nature, conservation cloning can play a crucial role in preserving endangered species.

Cloning Technology and De-Extinction Efforts

ViaGen’s cloning technology, licensed from the lab that created Dolly the sheep in 1996, relies on a technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer. This technology is vital to Colossal’s work on mammalian species, including the woolly mammoth, dodo bird, and Tasmanian tiger. As noted by Science Daily, cloning technology has advanced significantly in recent years, making it possible to clone complex species. Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences (left), and Blake Russell, president of ViaGen (right), are committed to advancing de-extinction efforts. Courtesy Colossal Biosciences

Expanding the Genetic Frontier

The acquisition of ViaGen by Colossal Biosciences is expected to broaden the company’s capabilities in cloning and genetic preservation. As stated by The National Human Genome Research Institute, advances in genetic technology have the potential to revolutionize conservation efforts. ViaGen will continue to operate as a subsidiary of Colossal, led by Blake Russell, and will expand its work in endangered species recovery. The company’s pet cloning services, which cost $50,000 for cats and dogs and $85,000 for horses, will also continue. According to Pet Cloning, the process involves taking a DNA sample from the pet and using it to create a genetic twin.

Colossal Biosciences’ ambitious goals, including the revival of extinct species like the woolly mammoth, dodo bird, and Tasmanian tiger, remain unchanged. The acquisition of ViaGen is expected to provide the company with additional expertise and resources to achieve these goals. As noted by BBC News, de-extinction efforts are a complex and challenging field, requiring significant advances in genetic technology and conservation biology.

Image Source: observer.com