US, Texas biotech firm to build 'Noah's Ark' for endangered species

The U.S. Department of the Interior is partnering with a Dallas-based biotech firm to create a genomic and biobanking archive for every species protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The project, announced Thursday, June 25, pairs Colossal Biosciences with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the department saying it will advance President Donald Trump's efforts to promote American innovation, leverage public-private partnerships and ensure that conservation programs are informed by the best available science and technology.

"America leads the world when we embrace innovation and put our best minds to work solving big challenges," Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement. "This partnership brings together the scientific expertise of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the ingenuity of the private sector to develop new tools that can help recover species, preserve critical genetic resources, and strengthen the future of wildlife conservation."

According to the department, the agreement establishes a partnership framework focused on preserving genetic diversity among threatened and endangered species, expanding scientific understanding of genomic applications in conservation and exploring emerging technologies that may strengthen recovery efforts for species at risk.

Colossal Biosciences, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has drawn international attention - and scientific debate - for its de-extinction work. In 2025, the company produced three gene-edited gray wolf pups, which it billed as revived dire wolves and engineered a "woolly mouse" with mammoth-like traits. It has said it aims to produce woolly mammoth calves by 2028.

Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, said the project's goal is to "create a modern-day Noah's Ark" created from DNA while also creating a permanent genetic backup of the nation's more than 2,300 ESA-listed species.

"Just as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was created to preserve the genetic diversity of our food supply, this partnership aims to preserve the genetic diversity of life itself," Lamm said in a statement. "Every species is a library of evolutionary innovation millions of years in the making. Once lost, that knowledge disappears forever."

Under the agreement, the public and private entities will work together to:

• Identify opportunities to expand biobanking efforts for species of conservation concern.
• Develop approaches to integrate genomic information into conservation planning.
• Establish best practices for data management and accessibility.
• Support training and capacity-building initiatives related to conservation genomics.

Colossal says the partnership will integrate whole-genome sequence data into federal recovery plans and build a free genomic data platform that any researcher, wildlife manager or conservation organization worldwide can use.

"As biodiversity faces increasing pressures worldwide, we must continue to evaluate and apply the best available science to conserve America's natural heritage," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik said in a statement.

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US, Texas biotech firm to build 'Noah's Ark' for endangered species

Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published June 27, 2026 at 10:01 AM.