Scientists attempting to de-extinct the woolly mammoth are delaying their projected timeline into the early 2030s as genetic editing proves significantly more complex than anticipated. Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, which harvested DNA from a frozen mammoth found in Siberia in 2018, now reports that recreating the ancient species requires altering more than 150 genes rather than the initially estimated 60.
Why the Woolly Mammoth De-Extinction Timeline Pushed to the 2030s
The wait to see woolly mammoths stalk the earth will last a bit longer, as Colossal Biosciences CEO Ben Lamm told TIME that the team is now targeting the early 2030s for lab-reconstituted calves. Originally, the company forecast that researchers would nurse baby woollies in labs within a four-year window established in 2024. Lamm clarified that the organization does not have a hard date yet, noting the target is “not 2036, but not 2030 either.”
The adjustment stems from unexpected hurdles encountered during cellular manipulation. Researchers discovered that transforming an elephant nucleus into a mammoth nucleus requires far more extensive genetic alterations than their comparable de-extinction work on the dire wolf, a project completed in 2025.
Deploying Artificial Intelligence and CRISPR for Gene Editing
To manage the complexity of rewriting over 150 genes, scientists are relying on artificial intelligence alongside CRISPR gene-editing technology. Colossal Biosciences is utilizing AI across all of its current revival initiatives, which include efforts to bring back the flightless dodo bird, the Tasmanian tiger, and the emu-like moa.
Did you know? Colossal Biosciences successfully produced a family of 38 woolly mice genetically manipulated using mammoth coding to express shaggy hair traits. Ongoing research has also mapped specific genetic codes controlling physical traits like the size of a mammoth’s ears.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do scientists expect the first woolly mammoth to be born?
Colossal Biosciences projects the first de-extinct mammoth could arrive in the early 2030s, though executives have not committed to a specific calendar year.
How many genes must be edited to create a mammoth?
Researchers estimate they must edit more than 150 genes of an elephant nucleus to construct a viable mammoth embryo, up from initial estimates of roughly 60 genes.
What technology is being used to de-extinct the mammoth?
Scientists are combining CRISPR gene-editing technology with artificial intelligence, using DNA extracted from a frozen mammoth discovered in Siberia in 2018.
Want to stay updated on the latest breakthroughs in genetic technology and species revival? Subscribe to our newsletter or explore our archives for more in-depth reporting.
Worth a look