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A once-mighty predator that vanished from the Earth 13,000 years ago has reportedly been revived, according to the American biotechnology firm Colossal Biosciences. This announcement comes as a significant milestone in the company’s broader mission of “de-extinction.”
Colossal unveiled videos showing fluffy white wolf pups in a vast 2,000-acre habitat located somewhere in the northern United States. This remarkable development adds to the company’s ambitions to bring back other extinct species, including the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the Tasmanian tiger.
While the news is undeniably exciting, some experts urge caution. They express skepticism regarding the claims and emphasize the need for rigorous scientific validation. “I want to see some peer-reviewed papers coming out of this to get a clearer understanding of what has been achieved,” stated Hank Greely, director of Stanford University’s Center for Law and the Biosciences.
Greely noted that despite the novelty of the puppies, which he described as ‘dire-ish,’ it is crucial to recognize that what has been created is not an exact replica of the extinct dire wolf. “People should remember these are not true dire wolves. They exhibit some characteristics of dire wolves but are fundamentally grey wolves with modifications,” he explained. Greely acknowledged the excitement of seeing these creatures, considering they are closer to their ancestral counterparts than anything seen in millennia.
History of the Dire Wolf
The dire wolf was a prominent predator in the Americas for over 100,000 years before its extinction, mainly attributed to the decline of large prey species and the impact of human hunting activities. These formidable animals are believed to have hunted creatures such as horses, bison, and giant sloths.
Colossal’s chief scientific officer, Beth Shapiro, shared that researchers extracted DNA from ancient remains—a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old inner ear bone from a dire wolf skull. The team’s findings indicated that the grey wolf is the dire wolf’s closest living relative, sharing “99.5 percent identical” DNA.
By altering grey wolf cells and making targeted edits across 14 genes, scientists successfully produced embryos that were implanted into large domestic dogs. Out of the eight surrogate mothers used, three gave birth to pups deemed to exhibit characteristics of the dire wolf. Two male pups, named Romulus and Remus, were born on October 1, while a female pup named Khaleesi was born on January 30. Shapiro indicated that these pups are now in their early adolescent stage.
Kevin Campbell, a professor specializing in biological sciences at the University of Manitoba, highlighted a critical point regarding the genetic manipulation: “Twenty mutations were edited, impacting just 14 genes. Given that a wolf has around 22,000 to 23,000 genes, the resulting offspring are 99.999 percent grey wolf, with only a fraction demonstrating dire wolf traits.”
Modern Conservation Implications
Despite acknowledging the distinctions between the created pups and their ancient counterparts, Shapiro maintained that the goal was to recreate certain defining features that would allow these animals to thrive in a contemporary setting. “We don’t envision recreating a genetically identical version of the species that existed long ago; instead, we’re focused on reestablishing the phenotypes associated with them,” she elaborated.
Colossal’s CEO, Ben Lamm, suggested that the endeavor has broader implications, aiming to generate awareness about wolves and contribute to the conservation of critically endangered species such as the red wolf. In fact, the company also announced the successful cloning of four red wolves, a technique developed alongside their work on the dire wolf project.
Lamm mentioned potential interest from several Indigenous American communities regarding the reintroduction of dire wolves in their territories. However, he acknowledged that such a venture would require careful planning and consultations with various stakeholders.
Currently, Colossal is focused on monitoring the dire wolf pups and is not considering their integration into wild environments. Yet, the company’s initiative has drawn criticism for potentially diverting attention from critical conservation efforts aimed at protecting existing species and their habitats. Joe Walston, head of global conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society, acknowledged that while projects like this can spark public interest in conservation, immediate efforts to protect endangered animals should remain a priority.
“We have species like tigers, lions, and wolves that are experiencing significant challenges and need our attention,” Walston remarked, emphasizing the importance of not losing sight of the existing biodiversity that currently graces the planet.
In summary, while Colossal Biosciences’ strides toward reviving the dire wolf mark a fascinating chapter in genetic research, the ongoing dialogue around de-extinction reflects deeper questions about conservation priorities and the balance between innovation and ecological responsibility.
Source
www.cbc.ca