Resurrecting dire wolves is just the beginning for Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm - Masters of Scale Recap

Podcast: Masters of Scale

Published: 2025-12-23

Duration: 34 minutes

Guests: Ben Lamm

Summary

Colossal Biosciences is pioneering the science of de-extinction with projects like the dire wolf, aiming to use this technology for conservation and biodiversity. CEO Ben Lamm discusses the ethical, economic, and scientific facets of bringing back extinct species.

What Happened

Colossal Biosciences, under the leadership of Ben Lamm, has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to bring back extinct species such as the dire wolf and the woolly mammoth. Using somatic cell nuclear transfer, the company successfully cloned a dire wolf, sparking debates about the authenticity and ethics of such experiments. Lamm explains that the dire wolf puppies, resulting from ancient DNA analysis, challenge previous beliefs about the species, such as their iconic white coloration.

The episode delves into the controversy surrounding whether these resurrected animals are truly dire wolves or simply modified gray wolves. Questions of ethical rewilding and the implications of de-extinction technologies are raised, with Lamm asserting a moral obligation to use these technologies to address biodiversity loss.

Colossal Biosciences, valued at $10 billion despite not generating revenue yet, has attracted high-profile investors like Tom Brady and Peter Jackson. These investors are drawn by the innovative mission and the potential broader applications of the technology, such as in human health and conservation.

The company has spun out ventures like FormBio, which focuses on computational biology, and Breaking, which addresses plastic waste. Furthermore, Colossal is exploring the concept of biodiversity credits as a potential revenue stream, linking each de-extinction project to the conservation of an existing endangered species.

Lamm also discusses the company's research into artificial womb technology, which could revolutionize how endangered species are bred and conserved. The goal is to birth a small mammal ex utero within two years, highlighting the cutting-edge nature of Colossal's research.

Despite the focus on dire wolves, Lamm emphasizes the significance of their work with the endangered red wolves, which he considers more crucial. This project underscores the company's commitment to using technology to enhance biodiversity and address the extinction crisis.

While Colossal's work is at the forefront of synthetic biology, Lamm acknowledges the ethical, moral, and regulatory challenges they face in the de-extinction process. He emphasizes the need for awareness and support for conservation efforts to combat the alarming rate of species loss.

Key Insights