The End of Aging—And Extinction | Dr. George Church on Longevity, Dire Wolves, and Woolly Mammoths

What if aging was optional—and extinction reversible? In this mind-expanding episode of Ignition Sequence, geneticist and biotech pioneer Dr. George Church joins host Dylan Bohbot to explore the frontiers of gene therapy, de-extinction, and the future of human health. A founding scientist behind the Human Genome Project, and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences and Rejuvenate Bio, Dr. Church breaks down the science behind living longer, reviving extinct species like the woolly mammoth and dire wolf, and using synthetic biology to heal ecosystems—and ourselves.The conversation spans decades of innovation, from the earliest genome sequencing breakthroughs to today’s radically affordable, precision therapies. Along the way, Dr. Church shares compelling stories, surprising stats, and visionary goals for how gene editing and de-extinction might actually reverse climate change and extend the healthy human lifespan well beyond 100.In this episode, you’ll learn:1. Why George Church believes there’s no biological limit to how long we can live2. How gene therapy could “dose you for life” with a single treatment3. What it takes to bring back an extinct species—and why it might help the planet4. Why restoring biodiversity could be key to fighting climate change5. What we can do right now to protect endangered species and future generationsTimestamps00:00:35 – The origin of George Church’s legendary “mugshot” photo00:03:15 – How the Human Genome Project really began—with the Department of Energy00:06:21 – Crashing the cost of genome sequencing: from $3 billion to $25000:12:49 – A pragmatic roadmap to reversing aging through gene therapy00:17:56 – Can we live to 100 and feel like we’re 50? Church explains00:24:35 – Why bringing back extinct species could help stop climate change00:27:16 – How Colossal Biosciences uses ancient DNA to rewild modern ecosystems00:33:25 – The dire wolf comeback: gene editing in action00:35:22 – The thylacine, the mammoth, and other stretch-goal species00:40:16 – Why the mammoth matters most to Dr. Church00:43:47 – What we can all do now to protect biodiversity00:47:09 – Gene drives, invasive species, and the ethics of ecological engineering00:52:05 – George Church on curiosity, kindness, and what the future might look like⸻🔗 Helpful Links🔹 Colossal Biosciences: https://colossal.com🔹 Rejuvenate Bio: https://rejuvenatebio.com🔹 Church Lab at Harvard: https://churchlab.hms.harvard.edu/