Colossal Disinformation

Vincent Lynch

I have a position: de-extinction is almost impossible, however, deëxtinction, a word invented by the world’s first “de-extinction” company Colossal Laboratories & Bioscience’s can be (Max 2025); hereafter Colossal, which they define as the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that appear and act like extinct species, is possible. It’s branding, not science. I and other critics of Colossal have been subjects of a “dark public relations” campaign to discredit us (Wolinsky et al. 2025). Here I briefly explore how deëxtinction distorts basic genetic principles, species concepts, and ultimately undermines public trust in science. My critique is not of synthetic biology or GMOs. In this essay “I settle the matter once and for all, by showing which elements of each side are correct” (Clarke 2012). Only one side is correct, and it’s not the one advertising deëxtinction.