Tom Ireland
@tomireland.bsky.social
Science writer, editor of The Biologist, & author of THE GOOD VIRUS, a Times book of the year 2023.
Bioscience, tech, cricket & comedy.
https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/tom-ireland/the-good-virus/9781529365283/
Bioscience, tech, cricket & comedy.
https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/tom-ireland/the-good-virus/9781529365283/
Great article Sabrina. At the end of last year I pressed Shapiro on whether repeatedly claiming to be 'resurrecting the mammoth' was misleading, given they are gene-editing elephants. She said the distinction "wasn't important" (!)
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
“Just the idea of having these species back is already having an impact”
Beth Shapiro with Colossal co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm
Beth Shapiro, chief scientist at the de-extinction start-up Colossal, talks to Tom Ireland about the science and ethics of recreating long-lost s...
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk
May 27, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Great article Sabrina. At the end of last year I pressed Shapiro on whether repeatedly claiming to be 'resurrecting the mammoth' was misleading, given they are gene-editing elephants. She said the distinction "wasn't important" (!)
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
I agree there is hyperbole around what EVO 'understands', but its outputs are really quite impressive (ie designing new CRISPR systems that work!). Here EVO creator Patrick Hsu argues that a black box that works is better than open models that don't:
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
"Making an AI-designed life form would be pretty fun"
Ai and gene editing
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk
January 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I agree there is hyperbole around what EVO 'understands', but its outputs are really quite impressive (ie designing new CRISPR systems that work!). Here EVO creator Patrick Hsu argues that a black box that works is better than open models that don't:
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-in...
I'm a bowler so a bit of seam movement doesn't equal a bad pitch to me! Never heard of snake cracks, however. If it is impossible to score runs in the next two innings too, it is a bad pitch I guess.
November 22, 2024 at 3:05 PM
I'm a bowler so a bit of seam movement doesn't equal a bad pitch to me! Never heard of snake cracks, however. If it is impossible to score runs in the next two innings too, it is a bad pitch I guess.
Is it a bad pitch? Only saw highlights but am loving the pace & bounce, the ball flying through to the 'keeper at chest height... proper challenging and exciting test cricket!
November 22, 2024 at 1:08 PM
Is it a bad pitch? Only saw highlights but am loving the pace & bounce, the ball flying through to the 'keeper at chest height... proper challenging and exciting test cricket!
What a lovely welcome! Thanks Karis!
November 20, 2024 at 9:42 AM
What a lovely welcome! Thanks Karis!
Hi Jamie - I'd like to be added too!
November 20, 2024 at 9:30 AM
Hi Jamie - I'd like to be added too!
Hey Katharine! Great pack - please add me!
November 18, 2024 at 1:49 PM
Hey Katharine! Great pack - please add me!