The Bolson tortoise is North America's largest and rarest tortoise species. Its population has grown from 23 adults to over 800 individuals through captive breeding, with over 150 juveniles released since 2021 showing 80%+ survival rates.
Set for Oct. 30 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, this year's Venture Dallas conference will assemble more than 500 entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders for a day of transformative ideas and connections.
Andrew Pask is known for his expertise in de-extinction science, developmental genetics, and conservation technologies. He leads the Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab (TIGGR) at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
The Dallas decacorn is scaling its de-extinction pipeline with indigenous leadership, a New Zealand subsidiary, and economic models for species preservation, including ecotourism opportunities. Filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson helped connect the collaborators, Colossal CEO Ben Lamm says.
Colossal Foundation Executive Director Matt James (center) with Colossal's head of animal husbandry, Steve Metzler, and Wendy Kiso, Colossal's principal scientist for assisted reproduction. [Photo: Colossal}
The North Texas-based foundation aims to fight the "extinction crisis" with initiatives including Colossal Biovault—"the world's largest distributed biobanking initiative"—and an array of new efforts to both preserve and "de-extinct" wildlife.
Colossal Biosciences’ academic investments include partnerships with Stockholm University, the University of Potsdam, the University of California Santa Cruz, the University of Alaska, McMaster University, University of Copenhagen, and Rowan University, among others.
Dallas-based Colossal said that in her new role, MacArthur Award winner Beth Shapiro will oversee continued expansion of the company's de-extinction and conservation science teams. The company previously announced plans to "de-extinct" the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo bird.
Colossal Biosciences and production partner Teton Ridge Entertainment have signed with James Reed, director of the Oscar-winning Netflix documentary "My Octopus Teacher," and his company Underdog Films, to produce the docuseries.
Left to right: Wendy Kiso, Principal Scientist, Assisted Reproduction; Steve Metzler, Head of Animal Husbandry; Leah Brickson, Manager of AI and Machine Learning and Matt James, Chief Animal Officer pictured using a drone in Kenya. [Photo: Colossal Biosciences]
Save the Elephants will deploy a small fleet of drones equipped with high resolution and infrared cameras to capture elephant behavioral data, which will then be processed by Colossal’s machine learning core to develop algorithms that will label elephants and automatically identify individual and collective social behavior.
Last year, the partnership announced a near complete sequence of the Asian elephant genome. Colossal and VGP said the sequencing work is part of a long-term effort to ensure the survival of elephant species in the face of climate change, deforestation, and disease.
Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, the de-extinction company behind plans to bring back the woolly mammoth and thylacine, developed its own software solution "after reviewing everything available on the market." Now it's sharing the platform with the launch of Form Bio.
The spinout's technology tools can help drive the “entire molecular revolution” that is occurring in the life sciences and biotech space, in addition to bolstering the Lone Star state as a hub for the industry, says Chief Strategy Officer Claire Aldridge.
Colossal is already working to "de-extinct" the woolly mammoth via a mammoth-elephant hybrid project. Now the Tasmanian tiger—which went extinct nearly 100 years ago due to human hunting—is the second species Colossal is seeking to bring back.
"We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Andrew Pask and the University of Melbourne to restore this amazing animal to Earth," said Ben Lamm, Colossal's co-founder and CEO.
North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details....
Dallas-Fort Worth is charting its own path in artificial intelligence. From applied AI to research and engineering advances, our region leads in advancing real-world solutions. Behind every breakthrough and solution are the people making it happen....
A bicycle-pedestrian trail being built alongside DART’s recently opened Silver Line is moving closer to completion after the project received a financial boost from the state. The Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded Dallas Area Rapid Transit $25 million for construction of Phase 3A of the Cotton Belt Trail as part of a statewide effort to improve active transportation infrastructure through the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program....
Dallas-based Mynd Immersive aims to redefine the future of aging in Texas and beyond through the company’s “connection-boosting” Great American Elderverse virtual reality experiences. Now the company is expanding its technology to senior living and skilled nursing communities across the state Texas....
Dallas-based hydrogen technology company DirectH2—a startup backed by HL Energy Ventures, the Hunt Energy spinout—has set its sights on expansion in India.
DirectH2 is developing what it calls “game changing” modular direct solar-to-green hydrogen technology....
North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details....
Dallas-Fort Worth is charting its own path in artificial intelligence. From applied AI to research and engineering advances, our region leads in advancing real-world solutions. Behind every breakthrough and solution are the people making it happen....
A bicycle-pedestrian trail being built alongside DART’s recently opened Silver Line is moving closer to completion after the project received a financial boost from the state. The Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded Dallas Area Rapid Transit $25 million for construction of Phase 3A of the Cotton Belt Trail as part of a statewide effort to improve active transportation infrastructure through the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program....
Dallas-based Mynd Immersive aims to redefine the future of aging in Texas and beyond through the company’s “connection-boosting” Great American Elderverse virtual reality experiences. Now the company is expanding its technology to senior living and skilled nursing communities across the state Texas....
Dallas-based hydrogen technology company DirectH2—a startup backed by HL Energy Ventures, the Hunt Energy spinout—has set its sights on expansion in India.
DirectH2 is developing what it calls “game changing” modular direct solar-to-green hydrogen technology....