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Ryan Phelan: How gene technology can save species on the brink of extinction

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Published January 7, 2022 at 9:27 AM EST

Bret Hartman/Bret Hartman / TED — Ryan Phelan speaks at TEDMonterey on August 3, 2021. TEDMonterey: The Case for Optimism. August 1-4, 2021, Monterey, California. Photo: Bret Hartman / TED

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Part 3 of TED Radio Hour episode Reshaping Evolution

What if we could rescue endangered species before they disappear? Biotech entrepreneur Ryan Phelan explores how genetic engineering tools can save species that would otherwise go extinct.

About Ryan Phelan

Ryan Phelan is the cofounder and executive director of Revive & Restore, a wildlife conservation organization that promotes the use of biotechnologies along with standard conservation practices. The goal of Revive & Restore's projects is to enhance biodiversity through new techniques of genetic rescue. They've worked to improve biodiversity in populations of black-footed ferrets, Przewalski's horse, coral, and more.

Previously, she founded and served as the CEO of Direct Medical Knowledge and DNA Direct, both with the goal of empowering health care consumers.

Phelan earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

This segment of TED Radio Hour was produced by Katie Monteleone and edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour. You can follow us on Twitter @TEDRadioHour and email us at TEDRadio@npr.org.