#681 - Ben Lamm - The Man Bringing Extinct Creatures Back To Life
Sep 16, 2023
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Ben Lamm, entrepreneur and CEO of Colossal, dives into the captivating world of de-extinction. He reveals plans to resurrect iconic creatures like woolly mammoths and dodos, discussing the complex science behind DNA extraction and genetic engineering. Ben explains how these efforts could combat climate change by restoring ecosystems. The conversation also touches on the ethical dilemmas and potential health implications of gene editing in humans. It's a thrilling look at the intersection of technology and conservation that could change our planet's future.
De-extinction efforts, like bringing back woolly mammoths, can help combat climate change by restoring ecosystems and mitigating carbon and methane release from permafrost.
The de-extinction process involves extracting DNA from preserved samples, identifying core genes, and implanting edited cells into surrogates for gestation and birth.
Advancements in artificial womb technology and DNA synthesis could scale the de-extinction process and establish breeding centers for extinct species in Arctic regions.
Deep dives
Bringing Back Extinct Species to Combat Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change
Colossal, an organization led by Ben Lamb, is at the forefront of de-extinction, aiming to bring back extinct creatures like woolly mammoths. By restoring ecosystems like the Arctic Tundra, which is linked to climate change, de-extinction efforts can help combat biodiversity loss and mitigate the release of stored carbon and methane in the permafrost. Mammoths, like elephants, have the potential to knock down carnivorous trees, promote grassland growth, and lower ground temperatures, making them valuable in restoring and preserving habitats.
The De-extinction Process and Genetic Engineering
The de-extinction process involves extracting DNA from preserved samples of extinct species, such as mammoths, and comparing it with the closest living relative, like the Asian elephant. Through computational analysis and genetic engineering, the core genes that define a specific species, such as mammoths' hairy coat and curved tusks, can be identified and incorporated into Asian elephant cells. The edited cells are then cloned and implanted into Asian elephant surrogates for gestation and birth.
Scaling and Future Implications of De-extinction
Scaling the de-extinction process is one of the key objectives, aiming to produce mammoths or other extinct species at a larger scale. This could be achieved through advancements in artificial womb technology and the production of induced pluripotent stem cells. Artificial wombs offer potential to accelerate the growth of de-extinct organisms while maintaining genetic diversity. The long-term goal is to establish breeding centers in Arctic regions, working in collaboration with governments, indigenous communities, and private landowners. Additionally, de-extinction efforts have implications beyond species preservation, with potential benefits for conservation and research in areas such as cancer resistance and genotype-to-phenotype relationships.
The potential of gene editing technologies
The podcast episode discusses the incredible potential of gene editing technologies in enabling various applications, ranging from gene therapies to addressing genetic diseases. The speaker highlights the importance of precision and multiplex editing technologies that allow editing individual letters in the genome or multiple parts simultaneously. They also emphasize the significance of DNA synthesis, where sections of DNA can be synthesized and swapped in, reducing the need for extensive editing. The speaker suggests that the progress of editing technologies will likely be the limiting factor in the number of edits that can be made. The ethical considerations and regulation surrounding gene editing are also discussed.
The importance of bringing back extinct species
The podcast explores the significance of bringing back extinct species, such as the dodo and the Tasmanian tiger, beyond their functional roles in ecosystems. Regarding the dodo, its revival is seen as a symbolic reminder of human-caused extinctions and the importance of ecosystem restoration. The Tasmanian tiger, as an apex predator, played a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance by controlling populations and thinning herds. Without their presence, the ecosystem is affected, as shown by the spread of facial tumor disease among Tasmanian devils. The speaker emphasizes the need to consider broader ecological impacts and the restoration of ecosystems as significant factors in the revival of extinct species.
Ben Lamm is an entrepreneur, CEO of Colossal and a founder.
What if Jurassic Park's dream of bringing extinct creatures back to life was possible? Well it kind of is. And Ben's company is forging ahead in the new frontier of de-extinction, starting with some of the most legendary animals from history.
Expect to learn why Ben is bringing Wooly Mammoths back to life, how you give birth to an animal that died out thousands of years ago, where Ben gets the genetic material from, how bringing back Mammoths could fix climate change, whether artificial wombs will actually work, if we can make humans as strong as Neanderthals using their DNA, why we should bring back the Dodo bird and much more...
