The Lie of De-extinction

When is a Dire Wolf not a Dire Wolf? When it’s a Grey Wolf made white and fluffy with a few tiny changes. When is a Woolly Mammoth not a Woolly Mammoth? When it's an elephant made hairy by a few tiny changes.

And yet one organisation has claimed, with much fanfare, to have brought back the Dire Wolf, and has plans to bring back other species, such as the Woolly Mammoth.

In this episode of Palaeo Jam, host Michael Mills chats with Dr Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor of Ancient DNA at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka about the issue of de-extinction, and how what is claimed to have happened, whatever it is, is definitely not that!

Nic is a palaeontologist and ancient DNA specialist working at the sharp end of what genetic science can genuinely tell us about the past. He is a prominent voice pushing back against the hype surrounding so-called “de-extinction,” arguing that what we are seeing is not the recreation of lost species. Such sensational claims can also distract from the more urgent work of conserving species that still exist, and give a false sense that extinction doesn't matter so much anymore, when it does.

You can check out Nic’s extensive research profile at… https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicolas-Rawlence

 

Nic was recently awarded the prestigious New Zealand Association of Scientists’ Cranwell Medal for excellence in communicating science to the general public in any area of science or technology… https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/prestigious-medal-for-science-communicator

 

You can follow Nic on Twitter at… https://x.com/nic_rawlence_nz

 

You can find Michael on Blue Sky at… https://bsky.app/profile/heapsgood.bsky.social

 

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At Palaeo Jam, we have an Instagram account at… https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_jam