Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content #394 - Bringing Back the Mammoth
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Dec 3, 2024 
Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences and a technology entrepreneur, passionately discusses his groundbreaking work in de-extinction. He shares insights on reviving the woolly mammoth and other species, fleshing out the challenges and scientific innovations involved. The conversation dives into the role of AI in genetic engineering, the significance of artificial womb technology, and the potential environmental and economic benefits of reintroducing extinct species into their habitats. Lamm also addresses misconceptions related to these ambitious efforts.
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Jurassic Park Inspiration?
- Ben Lamm and George Church have different perspectives on Jurassic Park's connection to their work.
- Church believes the novel's DNA sequence, similar to his own, suggests inspiration, while Lamm sees it as a helpful reference point for public understanding.
Reverse Jurassic Park
- Colossal Biosciences' de-extinction method differs significantly from Jurassic Park's fictional approach.
- Instead of filling DNA gaps with other species, they identify core mammoth genes and engineer them into Asian elephant cells.
Advanced Gene Editing
- Colossal uses CRISPR and other proprietary tools for genetic engineering, going beyond basic CRISPR applications.
- They aim to pioneer multiplex editing, making multiple simultaneous edits across the genome for efficiency.