The NewsWorthy Special Edition: De-Extinction? Dire Wolves, Dodos & What’s Next
Sep 27, 2025
Beth Shapiro, an evolutionary biologist and Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences, delves into the thrilling world of de-extinction. She shares how cutting-edge genetics aims to revive dire wolves and potentially dodos. Shapiro discusses the science behind ancient DNA, the ethical considerations, and the exciting applications for conservation, agriculture, and medicine. She emphasizes the importance of creating wild habitats and inspiring the next generation while addressing skepticism about 'playing God' and the risks involved in such groundbreaking work.
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Dual Mission Drives Tool Development
- Colossal pursues both de-extinction and species preservation simultaneously to build broadly useful tools.
- Beth Shapiro values working across mammals, marsupials, and birds to create transferable technologies.
Book Led To Advisory Role
- Beth Shapiro joined Colossal after the CEO saw her book How to Clone a Mammoth and invited her to advise.
- Her prior ancient DNA work and authorship directly led to her role at the company.
How De-Extinction Works Technically
- De-extinction starts by sequencing extinct genomes and comparing them to close living relatives to find key differences.
- Teams then prioritize edits and solve reproductive biology and editing challenges simultaneously.
