Bringing Extinct Species Back to Life | Dr. Beth Shapiro

About this video

Huberman talks with Dr. Beth Shapiro, chief scientific officer at Colossal Biosciences, about de-extinction and conservation. Shapiro explains that their direwolves carry 20 edits chosen after sequencing genomes from fossil direwolves, engineered into a grey wolf genome to recreate traits such as larger, more robust bodies and light-coloured coats. She argues that de-extinction and protecting living species use the same tools, and that public excitement about mammoths and dodos can build engagement and investment in that technology. Shapiro also stresses that species is a human concept used to organise biology. The conversation covers how genes are mapped to traits such as coat colour, plans for another direwolf pack to study ecosystem effects, and the regulatory environment around releasing gene-edited organisms, which Shapiro says involves oversight and approved protocols rather than unregulated release.

Key takeaways

• Dr. Shapiro says the direwolves carry 20 edits, chosen from fossil genomes, engineered into a grey wolf genome.
• Shapiro argues that de-extinction and conserving living species rely on the same technology and tools.
• Shapiro explains that species is a human concept for organising and talking about biology.
• Shapiro says a next step is another direwolf pack so researchers can better study ecosystem impact.
• Shapiro stresses that releasing gene-edited animals falls under regulatory oversight, not unregulated experimentation.

Episode details: published October 5, 2026 · 122.6K views · 2:15:37 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The science and protocols described are Andrew Huberman’s, presented for education — not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before changing your own health practices.

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