Science magazine journalist Rachel Fritts interviewed Revive & Restore’s Lead Scientist Ben Novak for this newly published article, Cloning Goes Wild, to share the story of Elizabeth Ann, the world’s first cloned black-footed ferret and one of North America’s most endangered species. Elizabeth Ann recently celebrated her first birthday, a major milestone that makes her one of the first clones of an endangered species to reach sexual maturity. “Everything about Elizabeth Ann is much bigger than the science behind it, and it’s much bigger than helping the ferrets,” says Novak. “It’s about whether biotechnology can become a part of mainstream...
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How can genetic engineering help not just humans, but animals and plants too? Ryan Phelan, Co-founder and Executive Director of Revive & Restore, shares with Manoush Zomoradi in this TED Radio Hour how we are using a wide range of genetic engineering tools to rescue a variety of species facing extinction. Ryan provides examples of species that we’ve helped protect thanks to biotechnologies. This includes cloning the Black-footed Ferret to increase their genetic diversity, a necessary component to the species’ survival. She also talks about where genetic tools are desperately needed to save biodiversity, such as engineering coral reefs to withstand warmer...
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Revive & Restore's Lead Scientist, Ben Novak, at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center holding Elizabeth Ann at 3-weeks old. Elizabeth Ann turned one on December 10, 2021. Revive & Restore’s Lead Scientist Ben Novak recently spoke to Mongabay about the need to pursue biotechnologies like cloning to address the extinction crisis. In her piece titled “For species on the very brink of extinction, cloning is a loaded last resort”, Mongabay journalist Caitlin Looby takes a look at what actions are being taken to save our world’s disappearing biodiversity. “Right now, conventional conservation measures are struggling to keep up with...
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You can now listen to Ryan Phelan’s TED Talk “Intended Consequences of Helping Nature Thrive” on the Apple Podcast TED Talks Daily LISTEN HERE In her talk, Ryan makes the case for embracing the “intended consequences” of genetic tools that have the power to restore Earth’s balance, abundance, and biodiversity rather than letting fear of “unintended consequences” stifle innovation and progress. You can learn more about her TED Talk here or at TED.com.
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Dovetail Genomics and Revive & Restore welcome you to CGS 2021! This virtual conference will feature six scientists actively using genomics approaches to aid species conservation and will be of interest to anyone focused on species conservation and/or interested in functional genomics for non-model organisms. Registration is free and can be done online by clicking here.
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In order to address our world’s biodiversity crisis, we must explore every tool available to save species from extinction. This is the message of a new TED Monterey talk by Ryan Phelan, CEO of the nonprofit Revive & Restore. In her talk, titled “Intended Consequences of Helping Nature Thrive”, Ryan makes the case that we cannot allow a fear of unintended consequences to stifle our innovation and exploration of high-impact tools to prevent extinctions. Ryan shares real-world examples of conservation successes thanks to the use of biotechnology. The concept of “Intended Consequences” encourages all of us to recognize and weigh...
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Published September 15, 2021 By Julian Koplin and Christopher Gyngell US startup Colossal Biosciences has announced plans to bring woolly mammoths, or animals like them, back from extinction and into the frosty landscape of the Siberian tundra. Colossal has received US$15 million in initial funds to support research conducted by Harvard geneticist George Church, among other work. The proposed project is exciting, with laudable ambitions — but whether it is a practical strategy for conservation remains unclear. Link to article
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By Scott Neuman Published on September 15, 2021 Using recovered DNA to "genetically resurrect" an extinct species — the central idea behind the Jurassic Park films — may be moving closer to reality with the creation this week of a new company that aims to bring back woolly mammoths thousands of years after the last of the giants disappeared from the Arctic tundra. Link to article
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By Carl Zimmer Published on September 13, 2021 A team of scientists and entrepreneurs announced on Monday that they have started a new company to genetically resurrect the woolly mammoth. The company, named Colossal, aims to place thousands of these magnificent beasts back on the Siberian tundra, thousands of years after they went extinct. Link to article
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By Michael Greshko Published September 13, 2021 A new startup co-founded by Harvard geneticist George Church wants to use cold-adapted elephants to remake the Arctic tundra—raising major scientific and ethical questions. Harvard geneticist George Church has co-founded a new company with an audacious goal: engineer an elephant that resembles the extinct woolly mammoth. The company, named Colossal, aims to use woolly mammoth DNA to make a hybridized Asian elephant that could thrive in Arctic climates. Link to article
