Biologist and ancient DNA expert Beth Shapiro is becoming more well known for doing de-extinction research.
Yet Shapiro used to be a de-extinction skeptic.
Ten years ago she wrote “How to Clone a Mammoth.” In the book she mentioned serious challenges related to de-extinction. Now she is the CSO for a firm trying to make de-extinction a reality more generally.
What has led to the U-turn for her on this kind of research?
Beth Shapiro, de-extinction of dodos, mammoths, and more
There’s a new article focusing on Beth Shapiro and de-extinction. It’s worth a read.
Here’s the piece: She’s on the verge of cracking ‘de-extinction.’ Previously, she didn’t see the point, WaPo.
The article talks about Shapiro’s role now as the CSO of Colossal, the most prominent de-extinction firm. George Church was the founder. Note that Church has a new stem cell startup too. These days Shapiro’s views on de-extinction have evolved and adapted:
“As the world changes and technology changes, as a scientist, you should adapt,” she said before slipping on a white lab coat over another recent change — a tattoo of a dodo on her arm. “And your opinion of what is possible should adapt to that…For Shapiro, it’s not just about the dodo. The scientific breakthroughs she hopes to make may not only revive extinct species but also save animals at the brink today, she said.”
In the WaPo piece, there’s extensive discussion of de-extinction of dodos, which is far more practical and perhaps more logical than trying to bring back mammoths. Shapiro even has a dodo tattoo now.
Readers of The Niche may recall that I’m skeptical of many de-extinction efforts including in particular de-extinction of woolly mammoths. One of the main criticisms of de-extinction efforts is that those pursuing them don’t have good reasons to try. I feel there isn’t enough consideration of how the animals would fare in our current world.
Some of the animals, especially the “mammoths”, would likely suffer. De-extinction of species that humans recently destroyed is about the only thing that possibly makes sense. So trying to bring back dodos could make sense in theory.
Still, these days the hundreds of millions in research funding going to de-extinction could go to much more practical efforts like working on serious human diseases. New treatments for cancer.
There’s another issue. In the case of de-extinction of mammoths, even those pursuing it acknowledge that what they are likely to produce aren’t even mammoths. They’d be more elephant than anything else.
What do you think of trying to de-extinct dodos? Mammoths?
Take our polls.
You might also point out that I wrote a book, “How to Build a Dragon” with my daughter Julie, but that book was in part a satire. We do discuss how using CRISPR, stem cells, and other technologies someone might be able to try to make something similar to a dragon. However, we are clearly joshing about the idea of actually doing it. Even so, some have reached out to me since asking how it might actually be done.
More recommended stem cell and regenerative reads
- FDA Approves New Prep Regimen for Bone Marrow Transplant, WebMD.
- Engineered heart muscle allografts for heart repair in primates and humans, Nature. Stem cell patches of this kind could end up being one of the main successful categories of regenerative medicine in coming years.
- Scientists use genetic engineering to create mice with two male parents, Reuters (AOL).
- Athletic Longevity Redefined: Inside RMI’s Groundbreaking Stem Cell Treatments, Sports Illustrated. Classic advertorial on a stem cell clinic. So I have removed the link.
- Fortress doses first subject in Phase II CMV vaccine trial, Clinical Trials Arena · via Yahoo Finance.
- The RFK question: Trump’s HHS nominee splits biopharma before moment of truth, EndPoints. Some of the statements from biopharma folks are painful. Some are waffling when things should be clear.