The Jordan Harbinger Show 914: Ben Lamm | Resurrecting the Woolly Mammoth
Oct 24, 2023
Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences, is on a mission to bring the woolly mammoth back to life through groundbreaking genetic engineering. He discusses inserting mammoth genes into Asian elephant embryos to create hybrid creatures that can thrive in the Arctic. Lamm reveals how this initiative could aid climate change efforts by restoring ecosystems and highlights the potential for advancing treatments for diseases affecting modern elephants. The conversation also touches on the ethical considerations and challenges of de-extinction.
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Initial Doubts About Colossal
- Jordan Harbinger initially thought Colossal Biosciences was fake after seeing an ad about bringing back the woolly mammoth.
- Forrest Galante, a guest on the show, confirmed its legitimacy and suggested interviewing Ben Lamm.
The Mammoth Cameo
- Ben Lamm's interest in de-extinction stemmed from a call with George Church, who briefly mentioned the mammoth project before ending the call.
- Intrigued, Lamm researched Church's work, leading to a meeting and the founding of Colossal.
Why the Mammoth?
- Colossal chose the woolly mammoth project because of George Church's existing work, and its potential benefits for elephant conservation and climate change mitigation.
- The mammoth's role in the Arctic ecosystem makes it a suitable candidate for de-extinction to restore the mammoth steppe and sequester carbon.