Latest news with #Pask
9 News
14 hours ago
- Science
- 9 News
Tassie tigers and toad war: De-extinction giant's Aussie projects
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Once-extinct alpha predators prowl their old Tasmanian bushland haunts again. Others blithely munch on hapless cane toads without so much as a stomach-ache to show for it, thanks to a DNA tweak. The toads themselves are dwindling, along with other invasive pests - new genetics introduced into wild populations are curbing their breeding. It's a future that's not quite here yet, but the shadow of it is looming, as one of the world's biggest names in de-extinction turns its eyes to Australia in a major way. Colossal Biosciences, most famed for their projects to resurrect the woolly mammoth, and recreating the "dire wolves" made famous in Game of Thrones , have announced the establishment of Colossal Australia, expanding a long-standing partnership with the University of Melbourne. Colossal Australia is working to resurrect the Tasmanian tiger. (Nine) And joining the company full-time is Australian Professor Andrew Pask, who will step into the international role of chief biology officer, as well as overseeing Colossal Australia. Pask said a greater focus on de-extinction in Australia, along with other environmental preservation techniques, was of particular importance. "We have the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world," he told Colossal co-founder Ben Lamm with Professor Andrew Pask. (Colossal) Pask, a long-time leader in the de-extinction field, currently leads the Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab (TIGGR) at the University of Melbourne. Colossal has previously been a partial funder of the lab, but now, TIGGR will become part of Colossal Australia. Among other things, it's at the heart of the company's plan to resurrect the thylacine - the Tasmanian tiger - which died out in 1936. Colossal made headlines when it revealed it had recreated the "direwolf". (Supplied) "We're currently in the (gene) editing phase for the Tasmanian tiger," Pask said. He forecast it would be about six to eight years before that phase of the project was completed. Concurrently, the lab is also developing breeding technology, from artificial wombs to ways to induce a "heat" phase in a prospective surrogate animal, which can be used for conservation projects around the country. "We work with a lot of other organisations and we share a lot of our technology with them," Pask said. Colossal is also working on a solution to the seemingly unstoppable menace of the cane toad, a species introduced to Australia in the 1930s. Cane toads were introduced to Australia in the 1930s. (Jodi Rowley/Australian Museum) Cane toads produce a toxin which is extremely poisonous and routinely kills animals who eat them, including native mammals and reptiles. One of these would-be predators could soon have the upper hand. The northern quoll was forecast to be extinct within 10 years, in part because too many are dying from eating toads. Looking to the toad's native predators in South America for answers, Pask said they spotted a tiny difference in a single part of their DNA that could be mimicked by gene editing in Australian animals. "One single nucleotide in a three-billion-letter DNA code, that's all you have to change," he said. The northern quoll is facing extinction. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Colossal is currently working with regulatory bodies on the conditions of releasing the gene-modified quolls into the wild, which would be a world first. "It hasn't been done before, so there's a lot to work through. With the gene change, the quolls are considered GMOs (genetically modified organisms), which means you can let them go but you can't eat them," he said. Australia's Gene Technology Regulator offers licences for releasing GMO animals into the environment. But there are other issues to work through - for example, as GMOs, the new quolls don't technically benefit from the environmental protections and conservation status of their natural-born cousins. "It's such a beautiful example of how we can use these de-extinction technologies to confront these issues," he said. "The quolls aren't just protected from the toads, they're then helping getting rid of the pest animal." Other project priorities for Colossal Australia include pushing ahead on bird genomics, which Pask said was "really far behind" compared to mammals, and which would have obvious applications for Australia's dwindling rare birds. And Pask also suggested gene modification could be used to curb invasive pest species such as rabbits, by introducing animals that spread infertility genes. "I'm thrilled to help lead this team at the forefront of de-extinction research, not just to bring back lost species, but to apply those technologies in real-time to save those still with us," he said. science environment animals wildlife Australia national World CONTACT US Auto news: Honda here to stay in Australia, announces growth plans.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Device inside black box holds secret to 'mind-blowing' Aussie breakthrough
Australia is now central to plans to bring animals back from extinction and protect those on the brink, with the announcement of a major investment of US funds that's 'substantially into eight figures'. Texas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences, which is working to recreate the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine), woolly mammoth, dodo, and moa, is expanding its research laboratories at Melbourne University and has appointed a local expert to oversee strategies for its de-extinction projects. Charismatic scientist Professor Andrew Pask, who has led the company's world-famous thyalacine genomic research, is now the company's global chief biology officer. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, he said the investment in Australia made sense as the nation has the worst extinction rate of mammals in the world. 'The risk to our wildlife in particular is extreme,' he said. Because de-extinction is 'enormously expensive', there are only a few rare cases in Australia where the technology will be used. A more immediate impact of the company's scientific developments will be altering existing species to protect them from threats like changing weather patterns and introduced species, or even breeding them up in artificial wombs. 'Part of the problem with issues around loss of biodiversity is that there are so many spot fires burning all over the place, and it's really hard to know where to focus your attention. But one of the fantastic things about this work we do with Colossal is that they have brought serious funding,' Pask said. Thylacine technology could prevent extinction of smaller predator The DNA engineering technologies developed as part of the thylacine de-extinction project are being used to design resistance for a toxin killing off the northern quoll. This rare predatory marsupial is at risk of being wiped out as invasive cane toads continue to spread across Australia, killing off native species that bite on their poisonous glands. 'It's predicted to go extinct in the wild within the next 10 years if we can't make these [gene] edits and get our animals out there,' Pask said. His team has also been working to genetically engineer frogs so they can resist deadly chytrid fungus, which is responsible for the extinction of at least seven Australian species. '[Colossal] is really moving the needle in terms of the conservation space,' Pask said. Ecosystem yet to recover from thylacine extinction When it comes to de-extinction, Pask is driven by a need to restore damaged ecosystems. There are animals he'd like to see returned to Australia's landscape, including the pig-footed bandicoot and the Toolache wallaby — a species that was seen in colour film for the first time this year, following an investigation by Yahoo News. Rare photograph of Tasmanian tiger triggers warning from families connected to extinction Unseen photos of Tasmanian tigers spark hope more could be discovered Rediscovery of forgotten Tasmanian tiger photos sparks excitement But the focus has been on the thylacine because its extinction had a bigger impact on the environment. The loss of this apex predator has led to an imbalance in Tasmania where sick and weak animals aren't killed off. This has led some scientists to speculate this problem led to the spread of facial tumour disease in the Tasmanian devil which almost led to its extinction. 'We're really shifting the focus now from learning a lot about old genomes, extinct species and lost diversity, to actually bringing those animals back into existence. And that's the whole path where biology really plays a role,' Pask said. New tool to help marsupials recover from disasters Under the new agreement, Melbourne University's Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab (TIGGR) will be renamed Colossal Australia, and its laboratories have been revamped. The investment will be key to Australia's development of artificial gestation. This will include growing embryos in culture, placing them in artificial wombs, transferring them to artificial pouches, and feeding them artificial milk. Currently, they can do each stage of marsupial pregnancy in pieces, but not as a continuous stream. And the wombs are undergoing a dramatic revamp due to concerns about its "naff" appearance. "It's like a black box with a rotating thing. It looks incredibly underwhelming, but what we can achieve with it is mind-blowing," Pask said. Once fully developed, Pask believes these wombs could be a 'game changer' for growing and releasing depleted species en masse back into the wild, like Tasmanian devils. Or re-establishing populations of animals after major disasters, like the Black Summer Bushfires, which impacted over 60,000 koalas and led to major populations being listed as endangered. 'After we've had a catastrophic bushfire or flood, we would be able to create 1,000 koalas with the exact genetic diversity from a particular region and then rear them without the need for having surrogate mums in captivity to rear them,' Pask said. 'You'd be able to do that basically in culture, and then release them back into the wild. I think that's got massive implications for how we might manage koalas going forward.' Artificial wombs could help human health Bringing back birds is more difficult because once they've genetically engineered a cell, it can't yet be turned into a living bird. To date, most of the artificial womb research has been focused on dunnarts. But they have also completed some work on pigs and mice, with a focus on different-sized animals. The team believes the technology could eventually be 'incredibly useful' for the conservation and gestation of non-marsupial mammals. It could be used to generate livestock species to help feed the world's growing human population. 'But also things like human-preterm birth. There are a lot of health implications for babies who were born very prematurely, and being able to have proper artificial wombs would be an amazing breakthrough,' Pask said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Business Wire
17 hours ago
- Science
- Business Wire
World-Leading Developmental Biologist Andrew Pask, Ph.D Joins Colossal Full-time as Chief Biology Officer
MELBOURNE, Australia & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Colossal Biosciences, the world's de-extinction company, today announced that Andrew Pask, Ph.D has been appointed Colossal's Chief Biology Officer. Pask is renowned for his expertise in de-extinction science, developmental genetics, and conservation technologies and leads the Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab (TIGGR) at the University of Melbourne. Historically Colossal has funded a portion of the TIGGR lab, but under a new partnership with the University of Melbourne, the TIGGR lab will become part of Colossal Australia and will expand to focus fully on Colossal initiatives aimed at leveraging the region's unique biodiversity. In his new role, Pask will oversee Colossal Australia, global embryology, and all exogenous development systems, and report into Colossal Chief Science Officer, Beth Shapiro, Ph.D. Pask, who has been an advisor to Colossal since early 2022, will now be full-time at Colossal and focused on its core mission while overseeing the global developmental biology strategies for all de-extinction projects. All Colossal-affiliated research activities at the University of Melbourne, including the thylacine de-extinction project, the Northern quoll cane toad resistance project, native frog and bird conservation projects, and artificial womb development, will be consolidated into Colossal Australia, marking a formal global expansion and solidifying the partnership between Colossal and the University of Melbourne - the most prestigious university in Australia. "This is an extraordinary opportunity to help shape the future of de-extinction and species preservation science," said Andrew Pask, Ph.D. "Colossal is bringing together the brightest minds, the boldest ideas, and the most powerful tools in biotechnology. I'm thrilled to help lead this team at the forefront of de-extinction research, not just to bring back lost species, but to apply those technologies in real-time to save those still with us." Pask's work has redefined how scientists understand and protect Australia's unique and endangered fauna. He has received international acclaim for his contributions to marsupial biology, including understanding their evolution and adaptation, and is one of the pioneers of de-extinction technologies. With more than two decades of experience in developmental biology, he is at the forefront of advancements in marsupial assisted reproductive technology, stem cell biology, and advanced embryology techniques. Pask's appointment as Chief Biology Officer brings this suite of expertise to all Colossal's de-extinction and conservation projects and underscores commitment to translational science that bridges academic research and real-world impact. 'Andrew has been a foundational voice in the science of de-extinction,' said Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal. 'His deep scientific insight, bold vision, and passion for conservation are embedded in Colossal's DNA. We are thrilled to welcome him to this role. This is a strategic time for Colossal as we broaden our activities and collaborations in Oceania. Australia's incredible biodiversity offers unique opportunities for innovation in de-extinction and biological research. Having a presence there will help Colossal achieve our goals of de-extincting the thylacine and working to restore and protect endangered species on the continent.' Pask's scientific excellence, leadership, and high-impact research has earned him consecutive highly competitive fellowships and awards throughout his career. In Australia, Pask received prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council Fellowships, the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship, and the University of Melbourne's flagship R@MAP Fellowship. Pask is also an Emerging Researcher Award recipient in the U.S., a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology, and winner of the University of Melbourne's top two research awards. Pask brings to Colossal a track record of innovation, collaboration, and mentorship that will help the scientific team reach audacious goals. 'Andrew's pioneering work in marsupial biology has already been accelerating our thylacine de-extinction program' said Dr. Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer at Colossal. 'He brings an unmatched understanding of the biological systems that we're working to restore, as well as the creativity necessary to drive real-world impact while solving some of the hardest problems in biology today.' Pask's appointment comes at a pivotal moment in Colossal's growth, as the company expands its de-extinction and conservation pipelines across continents, ecosystems, and species. His leadership will help ensure that Colossal's science remains bold and biologically grounded, redefining what's possible for biodiversity today and into the future. 'Andrew's innovative and rigorous approach to developmental biology has transformed the scientific landscape around marsupials and inspired new possibilities for synthetic biology,' said Professor George Church, Co-Founder of Colossal. 'His leadership and experiences are paramount for Colossal's de-extinction pipeline and developmental biology needs.' Colossal Australia will focus on research initiatives targeting native Australian species, with a mission to bring back extinct animals including the thylacine and to help restore ecological balance. Australia is the ideal host country for this extension of Colossal Biosciences, as it is both an epicenter of biodiversity loss -- with the highest rate of mammal extinctions in the world and a leader in applying cutting-edge conservation science with a goal end species and population extinction as the effects of climate change and urbanization increasingly threaten native species. Colossal was founded by emerging technology and software entrepreneur Ben Lamm and world-renowned geneticist and serial biotech entrepreneur George Church, Ph.D., and is the first to apply CRISPR technology for the purposes of species de-extinction. Colossal creates innovative technologies for species restoration, critically endangered species protection and the repopulation of critical ecosystems that support the continuation of life on Earth. Colossal is accepting humanity's duty to restore Earth to a healthier state, while also solving for the future economies and biological necessities of the human condition through cutting-edge science and technologies. To follow along, please visit:
The Herald Scotland
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scots firms 'still on knife-edge' despite fall in failures
Fiona Pask, partner and head of Scotland at the full-service firm, said: 'While the year-on-year drop in Scottish administrations is encouraging, the overall environment remains extremely challenging for many businesses across the country. Distress hasn't disappeared – it may simply be taking new forms or being delayed by short-term fixes.' Ms Pask added: 'Scottish retail and hospitality businesses, in particular, are grappling with evolving consumer behaviours, staff shortages and high energy costs. Even though administrations are down, many of these firms are still on a knife-edge. 'While a drop in administration volumes is a positive signal, it should not breed complacency. Many companies are still struggling with cashflow, limited access to funding, and uncertain demand. Now is the time for directors to act – not when crisis hits. Scots legal giant cites 'resilience and ambition' as latest results revealed 'Deeply concerning': More Scots firms plan to shut than expand 'Early intervention opens the door to more solutions. Directors who engage proactively are far more likely to protect jobs, safeguard value and find a viable route forward.' The analysis found the number of firms across the UK as a whole which entered administration in the first half was down 11% on the same period last year at 783. However, this was 3% higher than in the same period of 2023, which Shakespeare Martineau said highlights the 'fragility of the business environment'. The firm found that retail continues to be the UK's hardest-hit sector, with a 29% increase in administrations year-on-year – rising from 119 to 153. Hospitality filings across the UK ticked up slightly to 80 compared with 78 in the first half of 2024, while construction and manufacturing saw notable declines. Across the UK, the north west of England overtook Greater London as the region with the most administrations, with 165 administrations (up 11% on 2024) compared with Greater London's 158 (down 17%).
Scoop
08-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Sound Law-Making Needed
Sound law-making is needed for NZ to attract investment and achieve economic growth, BusinessNZ says. Chief Economist John Pask presented BusinessNZ's submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee today. He said the Bill was an important step towards improving the quality of regulation and reducing the compliance burden on businesses. "While Parliament is sovereign and can change legislation at any time it sees fit, there is benefit from placing appropriate scrutiny on decision-makers when law is made," Mr Pask said. "This Bill is not a silver bullet, but it is another good tool in the toolbox to improve the quality of regulation in NZ." He said it was important that the Bill more clearly covered regulatory takings, where an individual or business had their property restricted or confiscated by regulation, and provided for the principle of compensation in such cases. BusinessNZ recommends that scrutiny of local government regulation and Private Members Bills should also be provided for in the Bill, as well as scrutiny of central government legislation.
