Colossal's Ben Lamm Says Invasive Species Is a $5.4 Trillion Problem. Here's His Solution

"In New Zealand, in Australia, in parts of Africa, people are killing animals because they're invasive species. They're killing cats, they're killing possums... that's an animal welfare nightmare."

"Colossal's proposed solution: genetically modified invasive animals that produce only male offspring, allowing populations to 'live out their normal lives' before naturally dying out. No poison, no mass culling."

"99% of synthetic biology and genome engineering talent focuses only on human healthcare, but the same technologies apply to other use cases I think are even larger economically, but also have a bigger opportunity to help us."

Invasive species are a significant global issue, costing $5.4 trillion, with the U.S. alone facing over $500 billion in annual economic impact. Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences advocates for gene drive technology as a humane solution, proposing genetically modified invasive animals that produce only male offspring. This method allows populations to naturally die out without mass culling or poison. Lamm emphasizes the safety and reversibility of this technology. He also highlights the potential economic benefits of applying synthetic biology beyond human healthcare to address invasive species.

Read at 24/7 Wall St.