Behind the Bastards Part Two: Dire Wolves, Dr. George Church & The De-Extinction Grift
21 snips
Jun 5, 2025 
Langston Kerman, a comedian and writer, dives into the bizarre realm of genetic technologies and de-extinction with a humorous twist. They discuss Dr. George Church's controversial eugenics-related projects and the ethical quandaries surrounding cloning extinct species. The conversation touches on a creepy genetic dating app that leverages personal data, raising serious privacy concerns. Kerman and the hosts also critique the financial motives behind de-extinction initiatives, questioning their true impact on conservation and highlighting the irony of prioritizing profit over genuine ethical responsibility.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Church’s Ties to Controversial BGI
- The George Church Institute of Regenesis in China is linked to a company criticized for eugenics-like culture and human rights abuses.
- This association raises serious ethical concerns about Church's affiliations.
BGI’s Eugenics-Like Employment Rules
- BGI staff are forbidden from having children with birth defects, illustrating an explicitly eugenics-driven policy.
- This policy is considered morally reprehensible and evokes historical eugenics abuses.
Dreaded Genetic Dating App
- Church co-founded Digidate, a dating service that sequences DNA to prevent people with harmful mutations from matching.
- This raises profound ethical, privacy, and eugenics concerns about its use in love and reproduction.
