a16z Podcast: Making a (Really) Wild Geo-Engineering Idea Real
Jul 18, 2017
auto_awesome
Ross Andersen, a senior editor at The Atlantic and author of "Welcome to Pleistocene Park," discusses the ambitious project of resurrecting Ice Age ecosystems in Arctic Siberia with lab-grown woolly mammoths. He explores the complexities of gene editing and the ethical dilemmas in playing God. The conversation also delves into the role of large herbivores in combating climate change and the revolutionary concept of using artificial wombs for gestation. Throughout, Andersen emphasizes the need for long-term thinking in conservation and the impact of human actions on ecosystems.
The Pleistocene Park initiative aims to combat climate change by rewilding grasslands with lab-grown woolly mammoths, emphasizing ecosystem interdependencies.
Utilizing advanced gene editing techniques like CRISPR raises ethical concerns about the welfare of engineered species and the socioeconomic implications for local communities.
Deep dives
Reviving the Ice Age Biome
A group of Russian scientists in Arctic Siberia is attempting to resurrect an ice age biome through a project known as Pleistocene Park. This initiative aims to rewild grasslands populated with lab-grown woolly mammoths, targeting climate change mitigation as a primary motivation. The permafrost in Arctic regions, which has been stable for thousands of years, is now thawing due to climate change, releasing significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. By restoring the grassland ecosystem, these scientists believe it will help keep the permafrost frozen and reduce the release of greenhouse gases.
The Role of Mammoths in Ecosystem Restoration
Woolly mammoths were integral to maintaining grassland ecosystems by preventing tree overgrowth, a role that now needs to be filled as these animals are extinct. In their absence, the tundra has succumbed to tree growth, which is problematic for carbon sequestration. The project’s proponents argue that using mammoths could alleviate the need for carbon-intensive machinery to clear the forests. This ecological strategy underscores the complex interdependencies of species and the necessity of large herbivores in the ecosystem to maintain balance.
Gene Editing for Mammoth Resurrection
The resurrection of woolly mammoths is being approached through advanced gene editing techniques, particularly using CRISPR technology to modify Asian elephant genomes. The idea is not to recreate the exact woolly mammoth genome, but to incorporate key traits suited for Arctic survival into an existing species. These traits include longer fur, smaller ears, and cold-resistant blood. This process raises questions about the ethical implications of genetically editing animals for a purpose and the potential suffering of these engineered creatures in adapting to their new environment.
Cultural and Socioeconomic Challenges
The Pleistocene Park project faces significant socioeconomic challenges, particularly in navigating the human communities affected by these radical ecological changes. As local populations depend on traditional livelihoods, projects that require land rewilding must also consider their economic realities and potential conflicts with conservation goals. The narrative of the project must engage local communities and provide tangible benefits to be successful. Ultimately, this highlights the broader need for collaboration between scientists, local stakeholders, and policymakers to create sustainable solutions to climate change.
Here’s what we know: There’s a pair (father and son) of Russian scientists trying to resurrect (or rather, "rewild") an Ice Age (aka Pleistocene era) biome (grassland) complete with (gene edited, lab-grown) woolly mammoths (derived from elephants). In Arctic Siberia (though, not at the one station there that Amazon Prime delivers to!).
Here's what we don't know: How many genes will it take? (with science doing the "sculpting" and nature doing the "polishing")? How many doctors will it take to make? (that is, grow these 200-pound babies in an artificial womb)? What happens if these animals break? (given how social elephants are)? And so on...
In this episode of the a16z Podcast -- recorded as part of our podcast on the road in Washington, D.C. -- we (Sonal Chokshi and Hanne Tidnam) discuss all this and more with Ross Andersen, senior editor at The Atlantic who wrote "Welcome to Pleistocene Park", a story that seems so improbably wild yet is so improbably true. And while we focus on the particulars of what it takes to make this seemingly Jurassic Park-like story true, this episode is more generally about what motivates seemingly crazy ideas -- moving them from the lab to the field (quite literally in this case!) -- often with the help of a little marketing, a big vision, and some narrative. And: time. Sometimes, a really, really, really long time...
image: National Park Service
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode