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cover of episode #394 — Bringing Back the Mammoth

#394 — Bringing Back the Mammoth

2024/12/3
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Making Sense with Sam Harris
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Ben Lamm: 我对事物运作方式和改进方式充满好奇心，喜欢寻找新的有趣项目。我曾在移动游戏、大型语言模型和卫星软件与国防等领域工作。我与George Church合作创立了Colossal Biosciences公司，致力于复活灭绝物种，例如猛犸象、塔斯马尼亚虎和渡渡鸟。我们利用基因编辑技术，将猛犸象的特定基因导入亚洲象细胞中，最终目标是创造出活体猛犸象。这项工作不仅具有科学意义，也具有重要的商业价值和环境意义。我们与多所大学合作，利用人工智能技术进行比较基因组学分析，并开发了内部工具来选择最有效的基因编辑工具。目前，我们的工作仍处于体外阶段，尚未创造出活体猛犸象。 Sam Harris: 作为访谈者，Sam Harris 主要提出问题，引导 Ben Lamm 阐述 Colossal Biosciences 的工作原理、技术细节、与《侏罗纪公园》的差异、以及这项工作对人类健康和环境的影响。他表达了对该项目的兴趣和好奇，并引导 Ben Lamm 对其进行详细解释。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Ben Lamm co-found Colossal Biosciences?

Ben Lamm co-founded Colossal Biosciences to address the alarming trend of biodiversity loss, aiming to resurrect extinct species like the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo to reintroduce them into the wild and restore ecosystems. The company also seeks to apply its technologies to human health and conservation.

What is the primary difference between Colossal Biosciences' approach and Jurassic Park?

Colossal Biosciences' approach differs from Jurassic Park by focusing on understanding and selectively engineering genes into living species, rather than filling gaps in ancient DNA with other species' DNA. They use comparative genomics and AI to identify key genes and make precise edits, avoiding the flawed methods depicted in the film.

How does Colossal Biosciences plan to resurrect the woolly mammoth?

Colossal Biosciences plans to resurrect the woolly mammoth by using CRISPR and other genetic engineering tools to edit the genome of Asian elephant cells, targeting specific genes responsible for traits like cold tolerance, fat, hair, and curved tusks. They aim to create a hybrid that resembles the mammoth.

What is the current status of Colossal Biosciences' de-extinction projects?

Colossal Biosciences has announced three species for de-extinction: the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo. They have made progress in sequencing genomes and editing genes, but the process is still in vitro, and no living hybrid has been produced yet.

How does AI play a role in Colossal Biosciences' research?

AI is integral to Colossal Biosciences' research, assisting in comparative genomics and selecting the most efficient genetic editing tools. They use AI models to predict the best tools for specific edits, reducing time and cost in the research process.

What challenges does Colossal Biosciences face in genetic engineering?

Colossal Biosciences faces challenges such as regulating proteins like P53 in elephant cells to prevent cancer, optimizing cell culture conditions, and ensuring precise genetic edits without off-target effects. They also need to balance the complexity of multiplex editing with the limitations of current technology.

What is the significance of the Tasmanian tiger genome in Colossal's research?

The Tasmanian tiger genome is 99.9% complete, making it one of the most complete ancient genomes sequenced. This high level of completeness allows for more precise genetic engineering and a better understanding of the species' traits, which is crucial for de-extinction efforts.

Chapters
Colossal Biosciences, co-founded by Ben Lamm and George Church, aims to de-extinct species and apply the technology to conservation and human healthcare. They are initially focused on the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo, driven by alarming biodiversity loss statistics.
  • Colossal Biosciences' mission is to de-extinct species and use the technology for conservation and human healthcare.
  • Biodiversity loss is a major concern, with estimates ranging from 1.5% to 50% by 2050.
  • The company's initial focus is on three species: woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo.

Shownotes Transcript

Sam Harris speaks with Ben Lamm about his work at Colossal Biosciences. They discuss his efforts to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo; the difference between Colossal’s approach and Jurassic Park; the details of resurrecting the mammoth; the relevance of this work to human health; the role of artificial intelligence; reintroducing mammoths, Tasmanian tigers, and dodos back into the wild; the environmental and business case for de-extinction; and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe).

Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up) app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.