It sounds like a scene from a science fiction movie, but it’s real – the biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences has announced that they have successfully created the first specimens of a long-extinct species known as the “dire wolf,” using modern genetic technologies.
According to a Reuters report, the team of scientists sequenced DNA from fossil remains – a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull – and compared it with the genetic material of today’s gray wolves. Scientists identified 20 genes directly linked to the traits that made the dire wolf unique – such as its massive build and powerful muscles.
More stories like this, including one about a person who walked for the first time thanks to AI technology, can be found here.
Using CRISPR technology, the scientists made precise edits to gray wolf cells to replicate those traits. The modified cells were then cloned and implanted into canine surrogates, resulting in the birth of three pups: Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. These wolves currently live on a private estate in the northern United States, where their health and behavior are being closely monitored.
Although these wolves are not perfect replicas of the extinct dire wolves, they represent a significant step forward in genetic engineering and cross-species cloning. Colossal is already planning future projects, including the revival of the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger. However, as noted by The Times, this endeavor is also sparking ethical debates, with skeptics arguing that resources could be better spent preserving currently endangered species.
This discovery raises important questions about the limits of science and ethics in the context of de-extincting species.
Are we bringing back the past for the sake of science – or for the sake of sensation?
In Brief: Tech News Highlights
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- TikTok has been granted an additional 75 days before a potential U.S. ban takes effect, with the new deadline set for June 18.
- OpenAI is in talks to acquire io Products, an AI hardware startup led by former Apple designer Jony Ive.
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