The Colossal Impact: How De-extinction Became Possible with Ben Lamm
Doro and Tricia are excited to have Ben Lamm, CEO at Colossal Biosciences, to talk about his work in the field of conservation. Colossal's vision is to "make extinction a thing of the past," an ongoing effort with considerable progress. Colossal scientists recently ushered the birth of three dire wolf pups, a species that went extinct about 10,000 years ago. Ben talks about how the concept of de-extinction went from an idea to fruition, touching on the challenges and achievements it presents. He highlights different efforts and approaches to conservation, particularly as technology and human capability advance. Ben encourages listeners to think about their relationship with the environment, and how humans can preserve and protect it.
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benlamm/
X: https://x.com/benlamm?lang=en
Website: https://colossal.com/
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qUOTES:
“Colossal is the world’s first de-extinction and species preservation company. It came about because I’m a curious person.” –Ben Lamm
“The problem is that modern conservation doesn’t work at the speed at which we are changing the planet.” –Ben Lamm
We have set a very big, hairy, colossal, audacious goal: 2028 for our first wooly mammoth calves. Currently, we feel very good about the timeline. –Ben Lamm
Takeaways
Colossal is pioneering the use of advanced genetic technologies to prevent extinction and bring back extinct species, like the woolly mammoth.
Current conservation efforts can't keep pace with the human-driven environmental changes.
Colossal aims to complement conservation by reversing extinction and reintroducing keystone species to restore ecosystems.
The woolly mammoth project is also about rewilding the Arctic tundra, helping combat climate change by restoring grasslands and supporting elephant conservation tech.
Colossal builds technology for de-extinction, and also releases those tools for free use by researchers and conservationists.
Ben Lamm brings a tech startup mindset to biology—treating de-extinction like a systems problem, using quarterly sprints, Jira, and product development methodologies in a scientific environment.
Rewilding is also a complex, collaborative effort involving governments, indigenous groups, and local communities and private landowners.
Colossal’s challenges are the scientific complexity, high costs of the work, and the need for transparent communication.
Despite good intentions, there are some misunderstandings, and Ben Lamm believes the scientific community should continue educating and engaging with the public to address concerns.
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