Short Wave

Could de-extincting the dodo help struggling species?

Mar 16, 2023

Beth Shapiro, a leading expert on paleogenomics and co-director at UCSC's Paleogenomics Lab, discusses the captivating yet complex world of de-extinction. She reveals that while cloning a mammoth is unlikely, reviving traits through advanced genetic technologies holds promise. Focusing on her work with the dodo's genome, she explains how this research could aid in conserving current endangered species. Shapiro also highlights the ethical implications and how lessons learned from de-extinction can help protect biodiversity today.

11:51

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Beth Shapiro

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Exploring the Science and Ethics of De-Extinction

5min

Reviving Species: Genetic Technologies in Conservation

3min

Exploring the Joy of De-Extinction and Its Implications

2min

As a leading expert on paleogenomics, Beth Shapiro has been hearing the same question ever since she started working on ancient DNA: "The only question that we consistently were asked was, how close are we to bringing a mammoth back to life?"

In the second part of our conversation (listen to yesterday's episode), Beth tells Short Wave co-host Aaron Scott that actually cloning a mammoth is probably not going to happen.

"But there are technologies that will allow us to resurrect extinct traits, to move bits and pieces of genes that might be adapted to a large animal like an elephant living in the Arctic."

That is what companies like Colossal Biosciences and Revive and Restore are trying to do, with Beth's help. And she is leading the effort on another iconic extinct species, the dodo.

In today's episode, how Beth Shapiro's initial work mapping the dodo genome laid the groundwork to bring back a version of it from extinction, and how the knowledge scientists gain from de-extinction could help protect species under threat now.

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