Behind the Bastards Part One: Dire Wolves, Dr. George Church & The De-Extinction Grift
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Jun 3, 2025 
Langston Kerman, a talented comedian and co-host of the My Mama Told Me podcast, joins for a lively discussion about the wild claims of geneticist Dr. George Church, who aims to de-extinct the dire wolf. They delve into the misconceptions surrounding these creatures, contrasting their true characteristics with media portrayals, especially in Game of Thrones. The duo also tackles the ethical dilemmas of de-extinction projects and Church's controversial ties to Jeffrey Epstein, all while maintaining a humorous tone throughout the conversation.
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Dire Wolf de-extinction is Hype
- Colossal Biosciences claimed to "de-extinct" dire wolves using gene editing and domestic dogs.
- However, these animals are genetically modified wolves, not true dire wolves, revealing inflated claims for PR.
Colossal's Woolly Mammoth Plans
- Colossal Biosciences is not actually cloning extinct animals but genetically modifying existing species.
- Their woolly mammoth project involves genetic modifications on elephants, far from true de-extinction.
George Church: Genius and Grifter?
- George Church is a real scientist with impressive achievements in genome sequencing.
- Despite this, his numerous startups and claims warrant skepticism about exaggeration and ethical lapses.
