Latest news with #BenLamm
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
BBC Learning English - Learning English from the News / Woolly mice: Are woolly mammoths next?
(Photo via Colossal Biosciences) ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ The story Scientists have created a genetically modified mouse that's woolly. The researchers plan to use their woolly mouse to test out other genetic changes before they try to create genetically-altered, mammoth-like elephants in the future. The company, Colossal Biosciences, hope to use the new mammoths in the fight against global warming. Critics say the project is unethical and mainly an attempt to gain publicity. News headlines Woolly mice are a first step to resurrecting mammoths, but there's a very long way to go The Conversation Colossal CEO Ben Lamm says humanity has a 'moral obligation' to pursue de-extinction tech TechCrunch Do not be bamboozled by the new fluffy mouse Key words and phrases resurrect give something life again The actor has been trying to resurrect his career since his last film received terrible reviews. moral obligation a feeling that you have to do something because it is considered to be right I volunteer at a soup kitchen for homeless people – for me, it feels like a moral obligation. bamboozled tricked I got bamboozled by the car salesman and bought a more expensive model than I needed. Next If you like learning English from the news, click here.
TechCrunch
a day ago
- Entertainment
- TechCrunch
Colossal Labs will release the sounds of dire wolves howling ‘later this year,' founder says
Ben Lamm, the billionaire founder of Colossal Labs, and Sophie Turner spoke about his company's efforts in reviving the long-extinct dire wolf during a panel at SXSW's first London outpost. The wolf re-entered the public consciousness because of the television show 'Game of Thrones,' in which Turner was a leading character. It turns out that even she thought that dire wolves were mythical creatures. 'Were you a fan of 'Game of Thrones'?' Turner asked. 'I was a fan of 'Game of Thrones,'' Lamm said. 'When 'Game of Thrones' came out, which was a while ago, I never thought, 'Oh, by the way, one day we'll make dragons or dire wolves.' Lamm retold the story of how he and his team at Colossal 'brought back' the dire wolf species, which had been extinct for more than 10,000 years. He also provided some updates as to what the company is working on next, including a bio-acoustic project, announced just a few weeks ago. Lamm said his dire wolves started howling at 3 weeks old, responding to human singing and the sounds of owls. The first two, Romulus and Remus, are now around 6 months old. Lamm and his team are looking at ways to use AI to help monitor the behavior of the wolves, identifying patterns of their emotions and 'wolf linguistics,' as he put it. 'What's crazy about it is the dire wolves have their own unique pitch and inflection,' Lamm told the crowd. 'We're going to release that later this year,' he said, referring to a bio-acoustic project, which will map out the different types of dire wolf howls. Techcrunch event Save now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI Save $300 on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW The wolves live on a 2,000-acre preservation in a top-secret location. He referred to the park as 'very Yellowstone.' It has an animal hospital, as well as full-time caretakers and full-time security. The wolves are learning socialization tactics that would help them in the wild. 'They're starting to do some light predation on the preserve,' he said. 'They're becoming more and more true wolf-like every day.' He also said that they are about to officially introduce the two wolves to a newly created dire wolf, a female named Khalessi, who is around 3 months old. The public met Colossal Labs' efforts to 'de-extinct' animals with fascination and skepticism, with the top criticism being that Colossal's dire wolves are merely genetically edited gray wolves. But investors seem quite interested in where Colossal could be headed with its innovation. TechCrunch reported back in March that the company is looking to 'revive' the Tasmanian tiger and the dodo, two other extinct animals. The company announced this year a $200 million Series C at a $10.2 billion valuation and said in March it genetically modified mice to grow mammoth-like fur. (Lamm said it impressively took only a month to do.) Turner did ask Lamm a question that he unsurprisingly gets quite often. 'What about dinosaurs?' she asked. 'Can you bring them back?' He said his company isn't focused on that at the moment, as bringing a dinosaur back is quite complicated, Lamm explained. But later in the conversation, he said there might be a new update coming from Colossal soon. 'I think maybe this summer, there could be a dodo update that's interesting,' he said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The dire wolf is (kind of) back
The dire wolf is back—sort of. Biotech firm Colossal Biosciences used DNA from dire wolf fossils and surrogate dogs to produce three wolf pups. But University at Buffalo biologist Vincent Lynch says the results merely recreate the animal's outward appearance, not the species itself. Colossal CEO Ben Lamm joined The Beat to explain why they sequenced the genome—and why a real-life "Jurassic Park" isn't on the horizon.
Time Business News
25-04-2025
- Science
- Time Business News
Dire Wolf DNA Unlocks New Conservation Pathways Through Colossal's Work
The resurrection of the dire wolf by Colossal Biosciences represents not only a remarkable achievement in de-extinction but also a significant advancement in conservation methodology that could benefit numerous endangered species. The genetic techniques, reproductive technologies, and conservation approaches developed through the dire wolf program establish new pathways for preserving and potentially restoring biodiversity in an era of accelerating extinction. Central to these conservation applications is Colossal's deliberate strategy of pairing de-extinction work with parallel efforts focused on endangered species. As Ben Lamm, the company's CEO and co-founder, has emphasized, 'We try to pair every animal de-extinction event with a species preservation event.' This approach acknowledges that de-extinction technologies must demonstrate practical conservation benefits to justify their development, establishing an ethical framework that connects the resurrection of lost species with preservation of existing ones. The most direct conservation application emerging from the dire wolf program involves North American red wolves. This critically endangered species now numbers fewer than 25 individuals in the wild, facing imminent extinction despite decades of traditional conservation efforts. Using technologies developed through their de-extinction work, Colossal has successfully cloned several red wolves from different genetic founder lines. This achievement has 'already increased the genetic pool of red wolves by 25 percent,' according to Lamm, potentially offering a lifeline to a species that has been hovering on the edge of extinction. The specialized cell collection methodology refined during the dire wolf program has particular relevance for endangered species conservation. Rather than using invasive tissue sampling techniques that can stress already vulnerable animals, Colossal developed a method for harvesting endothelial progenitor cells from bloodstreams. This minimally invasive approach provides viable cells for genetic analysis and potential cloning while minimizing disruption to donor animals. For critically endangered species where every individual is precious, this reduced-stress collection method offers significant welfare advantages over traditional tissue sampling. Genetic diversity management—a critical challenge for small populations of endangered wildlife—represents another area where dire wolf technologies have conservation applications. The computational modeling techniques developed to predict how genetic modifications would express in living dire wolves can be adapted to identify which genetic interventions might most effectively increase population viability in endangered species with minimal disruption to adapted traits. This predictive capability could help wildlife managers make more informed decisions about genetic rescue interventions for inbred populations facing extinction vortexes. The reproductive technologies refined through the dire wolf program offer particular promise for species facing fertility challenges. The successful birth of dire wolves through surrogate mothers from a different species demonstrates the viability of cross-species surrogacy for endangered canids and potentially other taxonomic groups. This approach is valuable for species with minimal populations where natural reproduction is limited by geographical isolation or behavioral factors. The comprehensive pre-implantation genetic screening protocols developed for dire wolf embryos could similarly aid in optimizing genetic outcomes in captive breeding programs for endangered wildlife. Climate adaptation represents another area where dire wolf methodologies may assist contemporary conservation. The genetic modifications that recreated dire wolf traits effectively compressed thousands of years of evolution into a single generation. Similar targeted modifications—guided by appropriate ethical frameworks and ecological considerations—could potentially help vulnerable species adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions that outpace natural evolutionary processes. This approach raises profound ethical questions but may become increasingly relevant as climate change accelerates beyond the adaptive capacity of many species. Disease resistance enhancement provides another potential conservation application. Many endangered species face threats from novel pathogens or diseases that spread through fragmented populations with limited genetic diversity. The precise genetic modification techniques developed for the resurrection of dire wolves could be adapted to enhance disease resistance in vulnerable populations without compromising overall genetic integrity. This targeted approach offers advantages over conventional breeding strategies that often require multiple generations to achieve similar results, time that critically endangered species may not have. Indigenous partnerships established through the dire wolf program offer valuable models for contemporary conservation. Colossal has engaged with several tribal nation,s including the MHA Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Karankawa Tribe of Texa,s to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge into both de-extinction and conservation work. These collaborative approaches demonstrate how scientific methodologies and indigenous knowledge systems can complement each other in developing more holistic and culturally responsive conservation strategies for contemporary wildlife. The funding model developed for dire wolf de-extinction may prove as significant for conservation as any specific technology. Colossal has raised over $435 million since its founding in 2021, demonstrating that ambitious approaches to biodiversity can attract substantial capital investment. The company's success in positioning genetic interventions as both technological frontiers and conservation tools suggests potential pathways for endangered species programs to access funding sources beyond traditional conservation grants and donations, potentially transforming conservation finance for particularly challenging cases. Public engagement strategies developed through the dire wolf program demonstrate how charismatic species can generate interest in broader biodiversity issues. By connecting the dire wolf resurrection to popular culture references, particularly through George R.R. Martin's involvement as a cultural advisor, Colossal has created multiple entry points for public engagement with scientific concepts. Conservation organizations working with less famous endangered species could potentially adapt these narrative approaches to generate greater support for their work. For Martin, whose writings helped reintroduce dire wolves to popular consciousness before their physical resurrection, the conservation implications represent a significant outcome. As a Cultural Advisor to Colossal, Martin has written in his personal blog about the responsibility that accompanies humanity's growing capacity to shape biodiversity outcomes, connecting storytelling to both scientific advancement and conservation ethics. The ultimate conservation pathway unlocked by dire wolf DNA may be a fundamental shift in how humanity approaches extinction itself. By demonstrating that extinction can potentially be reversed through targeted intervention, Colossal challenges the conservation community to consider more active approaches to biodiversity preservation and restoration. This paradigm shift suggests that extinction may increasingly become a choice rather than an inevitability for species threatened by human activities and environmental change—a perspective that could transform conservation from a discipline focused primarily on minimizing losses to one that is equally engaged in actively restoring what has been lost. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
25-04-2025
- Science
- Time Business News
Why Ben Lamm Chose Dire Wolves As Colossal's First De-extinction Target
When Colossal Biosciences launched in 2021, co-founders Ben Lamm and George Church announced their ambitious goal of resurrecting the woolly mammoth. These iconic Ice Age species disappeared approximately 4,000 years ago. This initial focus generated substantial public interest and helped secure the company's first funding round of $15 million. Yet, less than four years later, Colossal's first successful de-extinction involved not the mammoth but the dire wolf—a species that had received comparatively little attention in the company's early communications. This strategic pivot reveals much about Lamm's decision-making process and the complex factors that shape de-extinction priorities beyond public visibility. Indigenous perspectives played a significant role in this shift. According to Lamm, conversations with tribal representatives provided a compelling rationale for prioritizing the dire wolf. 'This project came from our conversations with indigenous people groups,' Lamm explained in a recent interview. 'Some of the largest tribes in the United States started talking to us about wolf conservation and the Great Wolf, and one of the chairmen said that his people believe that the dire wolf was the Great Wolf.' This cultural connection provided a meaningful context beyond purely scientific considerations, acknowledging the symbolic and spiritual significance of wolves in many Native American traditions. The same tribal chairman raised another consideration that resonated with Lamm: '[he said] it was sad that the first animal [Colossal] brought back wasn't an American species.' This observation highlighted a geographical dimension to de-extinction priorities that extended beyond technical feasibility to include cultural and historical significance. As an American company with substantial U.S.-based operations, prioritizing a species with deep roots in North American ecosystems aligned with both Colossal's identity and its relationships with indigenous communities. Technical feasibility likely played a significant role in the decision. While both the woolly mammoth and dire wolf present substantial genetic challenges, the dire wolf offered several practical advantages as a first target. As a canid closely related to modern gray wolves (sharing approximately 99.5% genetic similarity), the dire wolf required fewer genetic modifications than the mammoth, which would need more extensive engineering of elephant cells. The availability of well-preserved dire wolf specimens from the La Brea Tar Pits provided exceptional source material for ancient DNA extraction—an important consideration given the fragmentary nature of most paleogenetic evidence. Reproductive considerations almost certainly influenced the decision as well. Successful de-extinction requires not only genetic engineering but also viable surrogacy options for embryo development. Wolf gestation periods last approximately 63 days, compared to the 22-month pregnancy of elephants, the closest living relatives to mammoths. This shorter reproductive timeline allows much faster iteration and validation of the overall de-extinction process. Additionally, domestic dog surrogates for dire wolf embryos presented fewer logistical challenges than securing elephant surrogates for mammoth embryos, streamlining the path from conception to birth. The extinction timeframe represents another factor favoring dire wolves. Having disappeared approximately 12,500 years ago, dire wolves existed significantly more recently than woolly mammoths, with the most recent mammoth populations surviving until about 4,000 years ago. This more recent extinction means dire wolf DNA has undergone less degradation over time, potentially providing more complete genetic information for the resurrection process. The temporal proximity also means dire wolves evolved in ecosystems more similar to contemporary ones than those inhabited by mammoths, potentially simplifying considerations about their ecological compatibility with modern landscapes. Size and management considerations likely also factored into the decision. While still larger than modern gray wolves, dire wolves present substantially fewer housing and handling challenges than woolly mammoths would. Colossal's secure 2,000-acre facility can reasonably accommodate dire wolves throughout their lifespans, while mammoths would eventually require much more extensive space and infrastructure. This practical consideration enables a more comprehensive study of the first de-extincted species without necessitating immediate decisions about potential rewilding or alternative management approaches. The parallel opportunity for endangered species conservation also has influenced Lamm's decision. By working with canid genetics, Colossal could simultaneously develop technologies applicable to critically endangered wolf species, particularly North American red wolves. This alignment created the opportunity to pair de-extinction with immediate conservation impact, supporting Lamm's stated philosophy that 'We try to pair every animal de-extinction event with a species preservation event.' The successful cloning of red wolves alongside the dire wolf resurrection demonstrates the practical implementation of this parallel approach. Cultural visibility likely played a role as well, though perhaps in unexpected ways. While woolly mammoths maintain higher general name recognition, dire wolves gained substantial cultural prominence through George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series and the subsequent HBO adaptation, 'Game of Thrones.' This visibility created a built-in audience interested in the species' resurrection while also providing an opportunity to distinguish scientific reality from fictional portrayal. Martin's subsequent involvement as a Cultural Advisor to Colossal further strengthened this connection, potentially influencing the prioritization decision. Timeline considerations likely factored into Lamm's strategic thinking as well. As a serial entrepreneur with experience building and scaling multiple companies, Lamm understands the importance of demonstrating proof of concept within timeframes meaningful to investors and other stakeholders. The relative simplicity of dire wolf de-extinction compared to mammoth resurrection allowed Colossal to demonstrate success more quickly, validating their technological approach and potentially accelerating future funding rounds for more complex targets. This strategic sequencing optimizes both scientific progress and business development—a balance Lamm has navigated successfully across multiple ventures. The decision ultimately reflects Lamm's multidimensional approach to prioritization that extends beyond technical considerations to include cultural significance, indigenous perspectives, conservation applications, and strategic timing. By selecting dire wolves as Colossal's first de-extinction target, Lamm created a path that balanced feasibility with meaning, scientific advancement with cultural relevance, and technological validation with conservation impact. This holistic decision-making process suggests that future de-extinction priorities will likewise reflect considerations beyond pure scientific interest or technical capability. For George R.R. Martin, whose writings helped elevate dire wolves in popular consciousness, the decision carries particular significance. In reflections shared on his blog, Martin has expressed both wonder at seeing creatures he featured in fiction return to physical existence and appreciation for the multifaceted considerations that guided the resurrection process. This convergence of literary imagination, scientific capability, and thoughtful prioritization demonstrates how de-extinction decisions encompass considerations far broader than technological feasibility alone. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
