How bringing back dire wolves and woolly mammoths may extend human life
Colossal Biosciences is using AI and genetic engineering to recreate extinct species like the dire wolf and woolly mammoth. While critics argue these are merely modified versions of living relatives, the company maintains that these projects offer significant scientific and conservation value.
Why it matters
De-extinction technology represents a frontier in biotechnology that raises ethical questions about human intervention in natural ecosystems.
Colossal Biosciences' efforts to bring back extinct animals like the woolly mammoth and dire wolves have drawn comparisons to Jurassic Park.
CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm told CNBC's Julia Boorstin at the CNBC AI Forum last week that he understands those comparisons.
"I think anyone that saw Jurassic Park in the 90s and didn't say it was cool, like I don't think they're probably very fun at parties," Lamm joked. "But yes, I saw the movies. I love them. They entertained us. They scared us."
However, Lamm said, "I constantly have to remind people on X that, you know, they were movies," he said. "I don't think Jurassic Park had any conservation or general human benefit models to it, so we've tried to take a slightly different perspective."
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