De-Extinction: A Scientist’s Perspective from Inside a Cloning Lab

In this solo episode of All Creatures Podcast, host Chris reflects on his two-decade journey from a passionate scientist working on animal cloning to a cautious advocate for conservation. Drawing from his firsthand experience with the world's first cloned deer, Dewey, he unpacks the realities behind de-extinction efforts—particularly the mammoth and dire wolf projects. While acknowledging the scientific marvel of cloning, he emphasizes its inefficiency, high failure rates, and ethical concerns, especially regarding animal welfare. He explains that true cloning is impossible for extinct species due to fragmented DNA, and that so-called 'mammoths' are actually genetically engineered hybrids. Chris argues that the massive resources poured into de-extinction could be far more effectively used to protect existing endangered species like the forest elephant, which already play vital ecological roles in carbon sequestration and ecosystem stability. He contrasts the moon landing—a historic, transformative scientific endeavor—with de-extinction, which he sees as a high-cost, low-impact distraction from urgent conservation needs. Ultimately, he calls for a shift in focus: not toward recreating the past, but toward protecting the living ecosystems and species that still exist today.