Max Rye and Evan Appleton of Intertwined Bio join Galaxy Balance to explore one of the boldest ideas in modern biology: borrowing nature’s most extreme traits and translating them into human health.
From horses that resist liver cirrhosis to naked mole rats, bowhead whales, radiation resistant organisms, hibernating animals, and the future of humans in space, this conversation asks what becomes possible when evolution itself becomes a design library. Max and Evan explain how Intertwined Bio is using synthetic biology, gene editing, AI, virtual macrophages, and agentic systems to identify traits from extraordinary animals and test whether those adaptations can be engineered into human cells.
We discuss liver fibrosis, DNA damage repair, innate immune engineering, longevity, space radiation, de extinction, Colossal Biosciences, the future of virtual cells, and the ethical line between therapy and enhancement.
This is a conversation about turning science fiction into biology.
00:00 - Introduction to Intertwined Bio and their innovative approach
01:01 - The origins and motivations of Max and Evan in biotech
04:56 - Scientific foundation: Borrowing traits from long-lived and resilient animals
07:16 - Why now? Recent technological advances enabling these innovations
10:46 - Role of AI in understanding complex biological systems and virtual cell modeling
14:17 - Delivery strategies for genetic modifications in humans
18:19 - Regulatory pathways and ethical boundaries in gene editing
22:25 - The potential of junk DNA variants and regulatory engineering
27:09 - The potential impact on sports animals and broader applications
31:12 - Industry landscape, collaboration, and competition
33:21 - Building a startup: team dynamics, trust, and early steps
35:58 - Insights on other biotech ventures like AstroMech and their directions
38:39 - Space applications: radiation resistance, hibernation, and life support systems
43:01 - Prioritizing targets using AI and high-throughput screening
48:31 - Broader prospects: aging, longevity, and the OZEMPIC effect
52:44 - Focus on innate immune system engineering and virtual cell development
57:15 - Strategies for macrophage gene editing and cell type targeting
1:01:36 - Bottlenecks in lab throughput and cell growth limitations
1:04:30 - The influence of science fiction on biotech innovation and ethical outlooks
1:06:14 - Closing thoughts: science fiction as inspiration and the rapid transition of ideas into reality
