Friday, Jul 24, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ
IsThis

SCIENCE

The Claim

Colossal Biosciences is attempting to revive the woolly mammoth through genetic engineering.

The Short Version

Multiple independent, high-authority sources — including AP News, Chemical & Engineering News, Forbes, and KNKX — confirm that Colossal Biosciences is actively pursuing woolly mammoth de-extinction through CRISPR-based genetic engineering. The company has demonstrated concrete milestones, such as engineering mammoth traits into mice, and has stated plans to edit Asian elephant genomes toward a mammoth-like animal. The claim describes an ongoing attempt, not an achieved result, and is well-supported by the evidence.

Caveats

  • The resulting animal would be a gene-edited Asian elephant hybrid with mammoth-like traits, not a true woolly mammoth clone — the meaning of 'revival' involves taxonomic and definitional nuance.
  • The project is scientifically controversial, with independent scientists questioning whether a mammoth-like animal could survive or be sustained in the modern world.
  • Colossal's stated 2028 target for mammoth-like elephant calves is widely considered highly speculative by the scientific community.

The Receipts

  1. Colossal Biosciences engineers mice with woolly mammoth traits

    Chemical & Engineering News

  2. Press Release Service: Colossal Creates the Colossal Woolly Mouse, Showcasing Breakthroughs in Multiplex Genome Editing and Trait Engineering on the Path to a Mammoth - CRISPR Medicine News

    CRISPR Medicine News

  3. "Colossal woolly mouse" created by scientists in effort to reconstruct the woolly mammoth

    AP News

  4. Colossal Biosciences breeds controversy while trying to revive mammoths - KNKX

    KNKX

  5. Behind The Scenes At Colossal's $615M Project To Revive Extinct Species - Forbes

    Forbes

  6. The Woolly Mammoth Revival - Revive & Restore

    Revive & Restore

  7. The Colossal Woolly Mouse and the Steps to Making a ... - YouTube

    YouTube

  8. Colossal Create “Woolly Mouse” On Path To De-Extinct ... - YouTube

    YouTube

  9. Colossal biosciences – a colossal red flag - The Daily Campus

    The Daily Campus

Filed Under

Colossal Bioscienceswoolly mammoth

More Fact Checks