The NewsWorthy – Special Edition: De-Extinction? Dire Wolves, Dodos & What’s Next

Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Erica Mandy
Guest: Dr. Beth Shapiro, Chief Science Officer, Colossal Biosciences

Episode Overview

This special edition of The NewsWorthy explores the rapidly advancing field of de-extinction—the use of cutting-edge genetic technologies to bring extinct animals such as the dodo, mammoth, and dire wolf back to life. Host Erica Mandy sits down with Dr. Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist and Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences, to unpack the science, ethical debates, challenges, and the broader implications of these scientific breakthroughs. Dr. Shapiro also sheds light on how de-extinction could revolutionize conservation, medicine, and agriculture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Colossal Biosciences: Origins & Mission

• Founded with the goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth; Dr. Shapiro joined as an advisor due to her expertise in ancient DNA.

  • “Colossal is a de extinction company and a species preservation company. And it’s both of those things, I think, that are most important to me.” (01:39, Dr. Beth Shapiro)

• Selected projects include:

  • Mammoth (Placental mammal)
  • Thylacine/Tasmanian Tiger (Marsupial mammal)
  • Dodo (Bird)
  • Dire Wolf: Chosen for technical feasibility and ecological impact.

2. How De-Extinction Works

• Not a “Jurassic Park” scenario—no retrieving DNA from amber.
  • “There is no DNA preserved in mosquitoes and amber. I’ve actually tried it because, you know, I’m an ancient DNA scientist…that’s not going to happen.” (04:16, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
• Process involves:
  • Starting with DNA from close living relatives (e.g., Asian elephant for mammoth, gray wolf for dire wolf).
  • Sequencing and identifying millions of small differences.
  • Editing only the crucial genetic markers.
  • Developing reproductive biology methods to birth and raise healthy animals.
    • “We need to know what DNA sequence changes we need to make…so we sequence a lot of mammoth genomes…” (04:16, Dr. Beth Shapiro)

3. Challenges & Timelines

• Colossal avoids giving hard deadlines due to scientific uncertainties, especially regarding animal health and welfare.
  • “Our teams are on track to be able to deliver a cell that has edits in it in order to make that deadline. But animal reproductive biology is hard…especially when it comes to elephants.” (06:11, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
• Previous public statements set an aspirational target of a mammoth birth by 2028.

4. Defining ‘Species’ in De-Extinction

• Debates arise over authenticity: Is a gene-edited animal really a “dire wolf”?
  • “There isn’t any existing species concept that can accommodate the way that we have made our dire wolves.” (07:29, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
  • Company defines success based on appearance, genetics, and ecological function.

5. Ethics, Criticism, and ‘Playing God’

• Ethical concerns focus on unknown long-term ecological and animal welfare impacts.
  • “I think as we work toward release of de extinct species…we can do everything in our power to evaluate what potential risks there might be…but I also think it’s fundamentally important that we remember the risk we take by not allowing ourselves to push forward with some of these biotechnologies…” (13:31, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
• Dr. Shapiro stresses the urgent need for innovative tools due to the ongoing extinction crisis.

6. Practical Applications Beyond ‘Resurrection’

• Technologies developed for de-extinction are directly applicable to:
  • Saving endangered species by enhancing disease resistance (e.g., honeycreepers and avian malaria).
  • Agriculture: increasing food security with genetically engineered crops and livestock.
  • Human medicine: gene editing and reproductive tech can serve both humans and animals.
    • “It is these exact same technologies…that will go into creating a future where we have food security for people in the world.” (15:43, Dr. Beth Shapiro)

7. Future Prospects: Beyond ‘Jurassic Park’

• Colossal’s focus is on wild ecosystem restoration, not making a zoo.
  • “It’s not in our business plan. We’re really hoping that we can generate these species…and the technologies…that can be applied to conservation, we are giving away to conservation partners for free.” (16:38, Dr. Beth Shapiro)

8. Financial Model and Technology Spin-offs

• Revenue is expected through technology development in fields such as artificial wombs, genome editing, and bioinformatics—with broad applications in health and agriculture.
  • “We have a team of people that’s making an artificial womb…as we develop artificial womb technology, this has obvious application to human health and also to the agricultural space…” (17:19, Dr. Beth Shapiro)

9. Excitement for Avian Conservation and Inspiring Hope

• Dr. Shapiro is passionate about developing avian genome editing tools to save endangered birds.
  • “As we push toward the dodo and the moa, we are going to develop tools that we can use to stop birds from becoming extinct. And I am very excited about that path and that future.” (18:14, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
• Emphasizes the significance of optimism amid dire news:
  • “It’s exciting, it’s generating enthusiasm, it’s giving people hope…in a time where we don’t get a lot of that.” (18:14, Dr. Beth Shapiro)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the reality of de-extinction (vs. pop culture):
  “There is no DNA preserved in mosquitoes and amber. I’ve actually tried it...” (04:16, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
• On the broader mission:
  “By pushing and motivating toward this moonshot goal...we are developing technologies that are going to stop species from becoming extinct.” (14:33, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
• On risk and urgency:
  “…We are in the midst of an extinction crisis and we need better tools. More tools, more resources, better opportunities.” (13:31, Dr. Beth Shapiro)
• On hope for the next generation:
  “Then we launched the dire wolf…and everybody came home talking about a future where their generation was going to be able to have a better future and make their children’s future even better.” (18:14, Dr. Beth Shapiro)

Key Timestamps

• 01:39 – Colossal’s purpose & Dr. Shapiro’s involvement
• 04:16 – Scientific method and de-extinction process
• 06:11 – Mammoth timeline and scientific uncertainties
• 07:29 – Debates about what qualifies as a “dire wolf”
• 08:47 – Immediate plans for de-extinct animals & welfare
• 13:31 – Addressing ethical concerns and ‘playing God’
• 14:33 – Why not focus on recently extinct vs. ancient species
• 15:43 – Broader implications for medicine & agriculture
• 16:38 – Distinctions from “Jurassic Park” and no future zoos
• 17:19 – Financial model: tech spin-offs and commercial applications
• 18:14 – Excitement for avian projects & hope for future generations

Summary & Takeaways

Colossal Biosciences aims to both resurrect extinct species and arm conservationists with revolutionary new tools for protecting current biodiversity. While the technical, ethical, and ecological challenges are immense, the work holds extraordinary potential for saving endangered species, securing global food supplies, and even advancing human medicine. Dr. Shapiro maintains hope, optimism, and a sense of responsibility—championing the idea that scientific ambition, when tempered with caution and ethics, can indeed help create a more hopeful, biodiverse future.