Bringing Extinct Species Back to Life | Dr. Beth Shapiro
Dr. Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences and evolutionary biologist, joins Andrew Huberman to discuss the science and ethics of de-extinction. They explore how ancient DNA, CRISPR gene editing, and cloning technologies are used to resurrect traits of extinct species like the dire wolf and woolly mammoth while simultaneously protecting endangered living animals. They also examine human evolutionary genetics, Neanderthal DNA admixture, and the broader societal implications of synthetic biology.
- Colossal Biosciences created living animals with dire wolf traits by introducing 20 targeted genetic edits into a gray wolf genome. Read →
- Black-footed ferrets suffered severe genetic bottlenecks and sylvatic plague before researchers cloned Elizabeth Ann from 40-year-old frozen cell lines stored in the San Diego Frozen Zoo. Read →
- Inaction is an active choice. Refusing to deploy genetic engineering tools does not preserve nature; it locks in ongoing loss because human environmental changes outpace natural selection. Read →
- Between 2% and 5% of the genome in modern non-African humans originates from ancient Neanderthal hybridization events. Read →
- The absolute physical ceiling for recovering ancient DNA is 1 to 2 million years under ideal Arctic permafrost conditions. Read →
- Asian elephants share roughly 99% of their genetic code with woolly mammoths, making them closer relatives to mammoths than to African elephants. Read →