Researchers at Colossal Biosciences have successfully genetically engineered wolves with characteristics similar to the extinct dire wolf, including long white hair and muscular jaws. Three wolf pups born from this process already weigh around 80 pounds and are expected to reach 140 pounds at maturity. The scientists used ancient DNA from fossils found in Ohio and Idaho to understand specific traits of dire wolves and then applied CRISPR technology to modify the genetic material of a living gray wolf. The resulting genetically engineered pups may resemble young dire wolves but lack the opportunity to learn essential survival skills, such as hunting large prey.
While this breakthrough has potential applications for conservation, independent scientists caution that reviving extinct species is not a straightforward process. “All you can do now is make something look superficially like something else,” says Vincent Lynch, a biologist at the University of Buffalo. Colossal Biosciences’ project to bring back lost species is part of a broader effort to use genetic engineering and cloning technology to revive extinct animals, such as woolly mammoths and dodos.
The company has also recently cloned four red wolves using blood drawn from critically endangered wild wolves in the southeastern U.S., aiming to increase genetic diversity within the captive population. However, experts acknowledge that this technology is not without its limitations, requiring a sedated wolf for a blood draw and still facing significant ecological challenges.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/dire-wolf-colossal-biosciences-de-extinction-56d6c192c5d968731b448081aa4149fe