Scent, Memory, and Genetic Innovation

Josh Wolfe is a co-founder of Lux Capital, where he funds the kinds of ventures that change everything: think gene-edited pig organs and technology that lets you “record” smells. His approach? Relentless curiosity. He reads dozens of newspapers daily to identify patterns, always staying a few steps ahead. In this episode of The Generalist, Josh shares how his firm backs companies that don’t just predict the future, but create it.

In our conversation, we explore:

• The revolutionary development of genetically modified pig organs being transplanted into humans and what this means for the future of organ transplantation.

• The recent achievement of "teleporting smell" across space and why computers that can replicate scents will open up entirely new industries.

• Why Lux is investing in the search for real-life "X-Men" — genetic outliers in isolated populations whose DNA could lead to life-saving medical advancements.

• How Josh evaluates macro trends to make smarter micro investment decisions and why ignoring the big picture is a mistake.

• The three tech sectors that Josh believes will define the geopolitical balance in the decades ahead.

• How Josh stays current on macroeconomic trends.

• Much more

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For a full transcript of the episode, please visit: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/shrinking-the-gap-between-sci-fi-and-sci-fact-josh-wolfe

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Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(04:38) A brief overview of Josh’s work at Lux Capital 

(05:57) The science fiction to science fact pipeline 

(09:11) Xenotransplantation

(12:10) Proven transplantations with modified pig kidneys, and what’s next 

(15:38) Ethical questions around xenotransplantation 

(17:48) Lux Capital’s investment in eGenesis

(19:34) The theory of persistent cellular memory 

(23:35) Why eGenesis began with kidneys

(24:30) Digitizing smell

(32:24) Commercializing digital olfaction technology

(38:26) The potential applications for a “Shazam for smell” 

(43:16) Variant Bio’s work studying genetic outliers 

(52:00) Variant Bio's two primary clinical focuses

(53:46) How Josh stays current on macroeconomic trends

(59:44) Josh’s thoughts on the critical areas the U.S. should invest in

(1:14:00) How to win the talent war

(1:18:53) Final meditations

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Follow Josh Wolfe

X: https://x.com/wolfejosh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-wolfe-7883/

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Newsletter: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariogabriele/

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Resources and episode mentions

—Books—

• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: https://www.amazon.com/000-Leagues-Under-Wordsworth-Classics/dp/1853260312

• War of the Worlds: https://www.amazon.com/War-Worlds-H-G-Wells/dp/8175992824/

• In Search of Lost Time: https://www.amazon.com/Search-Lost-Time-Library-Classics/dp/0812969642

• Perfume: The Story of a Murderer: https://www.amazon.com/Perfume-Story-Murderer-Patrick-Suskind/dp/0375725849/

• Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger: https://www.amazon.com/Poor-Charlies-Almanack-Charles-Expanded/dp/1578645018

—Other Resources—

• eGenesis: https://egenesisbio.com/

• Xenotransplantation: https://egenesisbio.com/xenotransplant/

• Surgeons Transplant Engineered Pig Kidney Into Fourth Patient: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/health/fourth-pig-kidney-transplant.html

• CRISPR: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR

• Can an Organ Transplant Change Someone’s Personality? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-leading-edge/202402/do-organ-transplants-cause-personality-change-in-recipients#

...Episode resources continued at: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/shrinking-the-gap-between-sci-fi-and-sci-fact-josh-wolfe

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