8/14/2023 0 Comments Real dodo dinosaur![]() ![]() So it is kind of like Jurassic Park, but it's very, very much a work in progress, is the first thing to say. So de-extinction is the proposed ability of scientists to bring extinct creatures back to life. How would you best summarise de-extinction to someone whose only reference point was Jurassic Park? I love the way you blend science with humour in your writing as it makes a really complex topic so much more accessible. Today, we talk about her new book Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-extinction, the complexities of de-extinction and how to separate fantasy from reality when it comes to bringing back a species. And while she still does stand-up on occasion, she more “writes funny” these days, having found her niche in science communication. In fact, she used to perform stand-up comedy on the side to supplement her income during her university years. With a PhD in neuroscience, Dr Pilcher began her research in the early days of genetic modification, exploring the potential for transplanting genetically modifying stem cells into the brains of Alzheimer's patients to alleviate their symptoms. ![]() He was amazing.”ĭr Pilcher brings a refreshing approach to a subject that can feel stuffy and out of reach for many of us: science. People were twitching and tweeting about it and I I've gotta go and see it. “There's a really rare migrant bird that's landed literally a mile up the road. “I’m looking weather beaten,” she explains with a laugh. "I describe myself as a tea drinking, biscuit nibbling, science and comedy writer," she says, her passion for the world evident. I take a liking to her immediately. “Tell me about yourself,” I ask Dr Helen Pilcher, as she and Higgs-her dog that she refers to as a genetically modified wolf-join me over Zoom on a rainy English morning. In our interview series De-extinction Dilemma, we tackle some of these difficult questions. We have the chance to play God, but should we? What are the implications of bringing back something that has already been lost to time? What would these creatures look like? Will there be dinosaurs? Conservation is currently buzzing with the idea of de-extinction-a process that has the potential to bring long-dead species back to life. ![]()
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