One CEO behind de-extinction shares what Jurassic Park got correct with its fantastical premise. Although certain aspects of the movie were far from realistic, like extracting dinosaur DNA from amber with a syringe, the basic idea of de-extinction —taking genes from extinct species and incorporating them into living cells— is a scientific possibility today. Researchers are currently working on projects that could bring back extinct species like the wooly mammoth using genetic engineering advancements that weren’t conceivable when the film premiered thirty years ago.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Ben Lamm, the American entrepreneur who partnered with George Church in developing the concept of de-extinction with their company Colossal Biosciences, shares what he thinks Jurassic Park got right. In reality, extracting DNA is far more complicated than just drilling into amber. Lamm says that the concept of taking DNA from amber with a drill and a syringe makes him roll his eyes. What makes Jurassic Park resonate with modern science is the notion that seeing an extinct animal could captivate and inspire people of all ages. Check out his quote below:
There is no question that Jurassic Park was ahead of its time. There are not only things that were surprisingly accurate in some cases, but even what they got wrong in actual science was a foreshadowing of the unbelievable possibilities that would come to be 30 years later.
What stands out the most to me is that the concept of taking core genes from lost species and engineering them into living cells to bring back an extinct species is very real. But, most importantly, and what is most accurate, is the joy of seeing an extinct animal that can captivate us and inspire children of all ages. I can’t wait for the day we birth our first extinct animal or when some day we will actually see a wooly mammoth roaming free on the frozen tundra.
Taking DNA from amber with a drill and a syringe makes me roll my eyes. If our work was that easy, we’d likely already have a mammoth or even dinosaurs for that matter. It’s much more accurate to see researchers crushing up bones in clean rooms in full PPE gowns to prep libraries in an effort to gather DNA. Also, the lysine dependence framed in the story as a way to keep the dinosaurs on the island won’t actually work. Basically all animals are already lysine dependent and nearly all foods contain lysine. So, this idea is problematic. Also, as opposed to the movie, we’re not setting out to create dependencies in the animals we de-extinct. Instead, we are working to help repopulate species that will be able to survive on their own.
What This Means For The Jurassic Park Franchise
The Series May Need To Change Its Scientific Approach
Projects like de-extinction hold immense emotional and educational appeal, fueling imaginations worldwide. However, much of the film’s depiction of this scientific process is oversimplified. Rather than using fossils preserved in amber, scientists tend to work in sterile environments, meticulously extracting and preparing DNA samples from bones and remains. Moreover, the movie’s concept of controlling dinosaurs via dependency on lysine, an essential amino acid, is flawed. If the franchise wants to become more accurate, changes may need to happen in future installments.
As the franchise continues to push different sciences, it may lean on new real-world developments to push the story forward.
Currently, modern geneticists aim to create species that can thrive independently in the wild once they are reintroduced, rather than engineering dependency like the inaccurate dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. According to Lamm, the idea that dinosaurs would die without a lysine-rich diet to prevent them from escaping the island doesn’t align with real biology. Most animals, including dinosaurs, are naturally lysine-dependent, and lysine is present in nearly all food sources, making this form of control unrealistic.
Our Thoughts On What New Science Will Mean For The Franchise
This Will Solidify Jurassic Park’s Legacy Even Further
Ultimately, the Jurassic Park franchise is one of the biggest in the world, not only for its artistry and entertainment but now, also for how it predicted scientific possibilities that would come to be 30 years after the initial film’s release. While it’s clear we aren’t on the brink of cloning dinosaurs, the idea of reviving extinct species is within reach. The film’s scientific inaccuracies don’t diminish its original visionary premise, which still reflects the wonder and potential of cutting-edge genetic research.
The upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, serves as the continuation of the Jurassic World and Jurassic Park saga and will be set five years post-Jurassic World Dominion. It will revolve around an expedition team that ventures into remote equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures, in hopes of a groundbreaking medical innovation. As the franchise continues to push different sciences, it may lean on new real-world developments to push the story forward.
Source: Screen Rant
