A Dire Wolf Breakthrough Just Made TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025
Colossal’s non-invasive cloning method is changing what’s possible for conservation
TIME has named Colossal Biosciences’ non-invasive blood-draw cloning method one of the Best Inventions of 2025. The technique uses endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), collected through a simple blood draw rather than surgical tissue harvesting. EPCs are hardier and faster-dividing than skin cells, making them better suited for cloning while significantly reducing stress on donor animals. The invention grew out of Colossal’s dire wolf work and has meaningful implications for conservation programs looking to bank genetic diversity from threatened species without invasive procedures. As Ben Lamm noted in the TIME feature, “EPCs offer a more humane, efficient pathway to safeguarding genetic heritage for future generations.”