Researchers at Colossal Biosciences have genetically engineered three wolf pups to resemble extinct dire wolves. Dire wolves, which went extinct over 10,000 years ago, are much larger than gray wolves and have specific traits that researchers tried to replicate using ancient DNA from fossils. The pups, which are currently three to six months old, have long white hair, muscular jaws, and are on track to reach 140 pounds at maturity.
Despite the physical resemblance to dire wolves, scientists note that the pups may never learn the necessary skills to survive in the wild as their extinct counterparts did. However, Colossal Biosciences has also cloned four red wolves using blood drawn from wild wolves of the critically endangered red wolf population in the southeastern U.S. This is aimed at increasing genetic diversity in the captive red wolf population and helping to save the species.
The technology used by Colossal Biosciences may have broader applications for conservation efforts of other species, as it is less invasive than other cloning techniques. However, it still requires sedating wild animals for blood draws, which can be challenging. Despite the limitations of restoring extinct species, the U.S. Interior Department has shown interest in the project, with Secretary Doug Burgum praising it as a “thrilling new era of scientific wonder.” While some scientists caution about the ecological limitations of bringing back extinct species, the work of Colossal Biosciences represents a significant step in conservation efforts.
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