A de-extinction program to resurrect the Tasmanian tiger by editing the genome of the fat-tailed dunnart, a living marsupial with similar DNA, and gestate the resulting embryo in an artificial womb.
99.9% genome reconstructed, 45 gaps remain. 300+ edits in dunnart cells. Artificial womb in prototype.
Updated 22 Apr 2026Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week
The fat-tailed dunnart shares DNA similarity with the thylacine. Scientists edit its genome to match the thylacine sequence.
Researchers make hundreds of edits across the dunnart genome, replacing dunnart regions with thylacine DNA from ancient bone samples.
No living surrogate is large enough, so Colossal develops an artificial womb to sustain a thylacine embryo through development.
| Spec | Thylacine |
|---|---|
| Genome reconstruction | 99.9% completeR (reported) |
| Remaining sequence gaps | 45R (reported) |
| Genetic edits in dunnart cells | 300+R (reported) |
R reported by the company
Colossal Biosciences
De-extinction, dire wolf, woolly mammoth
Dallas company co-founded by Ben Lamm and George Church that edits living animals to carry traits of extinct ones: mammoth, thylacine, dodo, moa. In 2025 it announced wolf pups edited with dire wolf traits and 'woolly mice'.
