Colossal Biosciences announced that it has resurrected the dire wolf, a large carnivore that once roamed North America. However, many scientists are skeptical.
Dire Wolves: The Controversial Return of Extinct Species
Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech company, has achieved a remarkable feat: they have successfully created three dire wolf pups. This groundbreaking achievement, reported by CNN, utilizes ancient DNA and gene-editing technology. Scientists extracted DNA from fossils up to 72,000 years old, essentially bringing back a species extinct for approximately 12,500 years. These pups, while carrying dire wolf genes, are technically hybrids, possessing a 99.9% gray wolf genome. Many scientists are skeptical. They argue that what Colossal created is not truly a dire wolf. Moreover, a modified gray wolf with some altered genes. This process is called de-extinction, which attempts to bring back species believed to be extinct.
How Did They Do It?
In fact, Colossal created three wolf pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—by editing the genome of a gray wolf. Specifically, they made approximately twenty gene edits to mimic certain dire wolf traits. Consequently, the pups are not true dire wolves, but rather genetically modified gray wolves.
Is this truly a de-extinction?
However, this scientific breakthrough sparks a debate. Some experts argue it’s not a perfect replica. Preferably a hybrid with most of its genetic material from gray wolves. Nevertheless, the dire wolf pups’ appearance and traits closely resemble their extinct ancestors.
As Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer, states, our goal with de-extinction is always to create functional copies of these extinct species.
This highlights the complexity of de-extinction and challenges our understanding of species identity. The implications of this technology extend beyond reviving extinct species. Colossal Biosciences also created cloned red wolves, which are critically endangered. This demonstrates a potential for using similar techniques to enhance genetic diversity in threatened populations.
This could be key to species survival, as stated by Michael Knapp, an associate professor at the University of Otago. That is, editing harmful mutations out of the populations of threatened species and introducing traits that may help rare species adapt to environmental change. However, the future of conservation might involve gene editing and cloning.
The Ongoing Discussion
Critics point out that most genetic differences between dire wolves and gray wolves remain unaddressed by Colossal’s limited edits. According to geneticist Pontus Skoglund, making just a few changes does not equate to creating an entirely different species. He suggested that modifying just 20 genes would make it optimistically 1/100,000th dire wolf. After all, genetics plays a crucial role in defining species.
In addition, this achievement emphasizes the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration. The dire wolf project involved experts in genetics, cloning, and animal care. This underscores the interconnectedness of scientific fields and the power of teamwork in tackling complex problems. This mirrors the sentiment expressed by many scientists that breakthroughs require a multi-faceted, collaborative approach.
Moreover, there’s ongoing discussion about the ethical implications of de-extinction. What is the ecological impact of reintroducing a species after so long? Will the dire wolf pups fit into existing ecosystems? These are crucial questions that need to be thoughtfully considered. As we advance technologically, responsible innovation is critical.
The Future of De-Extinction
This episode highlights the complex ethical and scientific challenges surrounding de-extinction technologies. The success of Colossal Biosciences, regardless of its validity, sparks a vital discussion. It is about the responsible development and application of such technologies. While reviving extinct species is captivating, it’s crucial to weigh the potential consequences against the benefits. This incident also demonstrates that more thorough research and open scientific discourse are essential before embarking on similar ventures.
Reference
- Perri, A. R., Mitchell, K. J., Mouton, A., Álvarez-Carretero, S., Hulme-Beaman, A., Haile, J., Jamieson, A., Meachen, J., Lin, A. T., Schubert, B. W., Ameen, C., Antipina, E. E., Bover, P., Brace, S., Carmagnini, A., Carøe, C., Castruita, J. a. S., Chatters, J. C., Dobney, K., . . . Frantz, L. a. F. (2021c). Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineage. Nature, 591(7848), 87–91. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03082-x
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Neha Adikane holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Pune University, bringing a unique blend of scientific expertise and creative writing skills to her craft. She specializes in creating engaging, insightful, and impactful content across various niches. With a passion for translating complex ideas into simple, relatable narratives, she excels at crafting blogs, articles, website content, and social media posts that captivate readers and drive engagement. Neha’s background in environmental science adds depth to her writing, allowing her to effectively cover topics related to sustainability, eco-awareness, and scientific innovations.
