Colossal, a startup bent on resurrecting long-lost species, is making waves at this year’s SXSW. CEO Ben Lamm is here to channel his inner mad scientist and assure us all that we have a “moral obligation” to dabble in some genetic wizardry to undo our past eco-sins.

In an interview that had jaws dropping and heads shaking, Lamm laid out his ambitious de-extinction mission: bringing back the woolly mammoth, the dodo bird, and yes, the Tasmanian tiger. While dreams of a live-action Jurassic Park remain just that, dreams, Lamm wants folks to understand that modern conservation techniques just aren’t cutting it anymore. “I think we have a moral and ethical obligation to pursue these technologies,” he said. OK, Ben, just promise us you won’t make dinosaurs next!

The Dallas-based company isn’t shy when it comes to securing funding. They’ve managed to rake in over hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital, leading to a jaw-dropping valuation of $10.2 billion. And they’re not stopping there! According to Lamm, they’re projecting to churn out woolly mammoth hybrid calves by 2028. Who knew the Arctic would become the hottest destination for extinct species?

But let’s not forget about Colossal’s side quests: developing a gene-edited “woolly mouse”. Yep, you heard that right. These little critters have a new hairdo inspired by mammoths. It’s cute, it’s weird, and it might just give rise to a new trend in pet fashion?

Skeptics in the scientific community have raised brows, questioning whether these projects are more about showmanship than science. What’s next? A mouse in a mammoth costume? Lamm remains undeterred. He believes this work is the first step towards achieving his grand vision of a nature revived.

As futuristic conversations danced through the SXSW air, Lamm proclaimed that synthetic biology paired with AI will be the most potent force we’ve ever seen. He envisioned a future where we can not just bring back the old, but also transcend our human limitations. Ready for a world where we might be able to tweak genes to remove invasive species or, here’s a twist, even extend our lifespans to enjoy our Instagram feeds forever?

One thing is for sure: Colossal’s ambitious initiatives, while stirring the imagination, also throw up big ethical questions. As Lamm meets quarterly with US government agencies to discuss funding possibilities, or perhaps plot our species’ revival, there’s one thing we hope: let’s keep any Jurassic Park aspirations firmly in the realm of fiction. The future is uncertain enough without adding raptors to the mix!

So here we are, on the brink of a scientific revolution. Will the next frontier be humanity’s salvation or simply another capitalist venture cloaked in revolutionary aspirations? Only time will tell.