"Climate change, biodiversity, CRISPR and gene editing, artificial intelligence, computational analysis and advanced embryology can be difficult concepts for the public to fully grasp. We came up with 'Colossal Biosciences' because losing species is a colossal problem, our solution is colossal and the mammoth is a colossal animal. We felt that our brand and name should not only reflect the problem and solution, but also be approachable to children, including some who will grow up to read Cell, Nature and Science."
"We had a list of seven or eight potential names - including 'Huge', 'Macedon' (an ancient kingdom) and 'Footprint' (because every species has a unique one). Everything was centred around the concept of 'big and awesome'. Obviously, 'Mammoth' was on the list because the world is facing a mammoth challenge, but we felt that calling it that would have pigeonholed us to one species."
Up to 25% of global biodiversity could be lost by 2050, presenting a vast conservation challenge. The company selected a name intended to capture three elements: the problem, the solution and a flagship species, the mammoth. 'Colossal Biosciences' was chosen to signal the scale of the problem and the ambition of the response, while keeping the mammoth as an emblematic, approachable figure. The brand aims to make complex fields such as CRISPR, AI, computational analysis and embryology accessible and inspiring to children. Multiple alternative names were considered, with concerns about limiting associations or intellectual-property conflicts guiding the final choice.
Read at Nature
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