Masters of Scale Resurrecting dire wolves is just the beginning for Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm
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Dec 23, 2025 
Ben Lamm, Co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, dives into the fascinating world of de-extinction, specifically the resurrection of the dire wolf. He shares the intricacies of using ancient DNA and AI for gene engineering. Lamm discusses the ethical debates surrounding these efforts and responds to critics about the authenticity of their creations. He also highlights future projects like mammoths and the importance of conservation. With celebrity investors on board, Lamm inspires a conversation about biodiversity and the future of species restoration.
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From Ancient Bone To Living Pup
- Ben Lamm describes extracting ancient DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to reconstruct dire wolf genomes.
- The team edited gray wolf DNA and used somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce dire wolf-like puppies carried in domestic dogs.
Functional De-Extinction Vs. True Cloning
- Functional de-extinction uses closest living relatives plus targeted ancient alleles, not pure cloning.
- The result is a practical reconstruction using dire-wolf-specific genes to recreate key phenotypes.
Lead By Assembling Smarter Teams
- Build teams of experts when entering fields you don't personally know; delegate to people smarter than you.
- Use compelling missions to attract talent and sustain long-term commitment beyond pure profit motives.