Resurrecting the Future: The Viral Rise of De-Extinction

Event ID: PP1150668

Fri, Mar 13, 2026 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Venue: Salon D (JW Marriott)

View on Official SXSW

Summary

One word rarely used to describe synthetic biology is excitement. While the world’s leading scientists have worked tirelessly to combat biodiversity loss, public engagement has lagged behind the urgency of the crisis. Until now that is. Colossal Biosciences is disrupting the scientific landscape by capturing mass attention and inspiring children and young people around the world, using de-extinction and advanced genetic technologies to bring unprecedented attention—and tangible solutions—to the biodiversity crisis. As traditional conservation struggles to keep pace with accelerating species loss, Colossal is redefining what’s possible —including the Colossal BioVault, a genetic repository designed to safeguard biodiversity at unprecedented scale. Protecting more than 10,000 species and preserving over one million biological samples, the BioVault represents a modern-day Noah's Ark and a bold new safeguard against extinction. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the next frontier.

Contributors

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