Genetics Firm's New Tech Could Save Endangered Antelopes

A genetics startup known for splashy claims about bringing back extinct animals just announced something that could actually help wildlife today.

Dallas-based Colossal, which previously drew criticism for creating wolf hybrids marketed as "dire wolves," is now working on the bluebuck, an antelope that went extinct in 1800. But this time, CEO Ben Lamm says the company's real goal is developing conservation tools for species we can still save.

The breakthrough involves a new technique for collecting eggs from live animals using ultrasound and a needle. Researchers can harvest immature egg cells without surgery, which could be a game changer for the 30% of antelope species currently at risk of extinction.

"Everything that we do that has application to conservation, we open source for free to the world," Lamm told The Verge. The company is making all its technologies and genetic data available to conservationists at no cost.

The timing matters. One of the biggest challenges in species preservation is safely harvesting eggs from living animals for breeding programs. This new method could work across many endangered species.

Ecologist Douglas McCauley, who previously criticized Colossal's dire wolf project as a distraction from real conservation, says this technology looks genuinely useful. "A very useful, exportable technology that could be used before a species goes extinct," he noted.

Colossal is also launching a global biobanking initiative to preserve genetic records of at-risk species for future scientists. McCauley calls the company's policy of sharing its work "a really great best practice."

The Bright Side

The shift represents a more honest approach from a company that's raised hundreds of millions on flashy promises. While Colossal still plans to pursue "de-extinction" projects, acknowledging that these efforts primarily develop tools for living species changes the conversation.

The open-source commitment means conservation groups worldwide can use these techniques without the controversy or cost. Smaller organizations protecting endangered species in remote regions could access cutting-edge reproductive technology they could never afford to develop themselves.

McCauley remains cautious about Colossal's broader claims but supports using advanced technology for conservation when applied intelligently. The more groups building genetic repositories and sharing reproductive techniques, the better chance threatened species have.

Sometimes the most useful breakthroughs come from unexpected places, even ones chasing woolly mammoths.