Plant De-Extinction and the Future of Conservation

This episode explores the emerging field of plant de-extinction, where biotechnology aims to revive lost botanical species using ancient DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, and tissue culture.

Drawing on genetic material from seed banks and herbarium collections, scientists are testing whether plants—nature’s ecological foundation—can be reconstructed. But can technological revival justify the ecological and ethical risks, or does conservation remain the more urgent priority?

This episode includes AI-generated content.