Dire wolves resurrected: A new era in de-extinction science
In a Jurassic Park-esque feat, scientists have successfully brought back the dire wolf – a previously extinct species.
In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists have brought back the dire wolf, a species that has been extinct for over 10,000 years.
Romulus and Remus are two six-month-old dire wolf pups who are already making waves in the scientific community.
The dire wolf once roamed an American range that extended from Venezuela to Canada, but its population declined due to a combination of factors, including climate change, loss of prey and competition with other predators.
Despite their extinction, dire wolf remains have been found across the Americas, providing a unique opportunity for scientists to study their DNA, reports Time.
Colossal Biosciences, a company founded in 2021, has been working on de-extinction technology.
By deciphering the dire wolf genome and rewriting the genetic code of the common gray wolf, scientists have successfully brought back the dire wolf.
The pups were born via surrogate mothers – domestic dogs – in a remarkable feat of genetic engineering.
“If we want a future that is both bionumerous and filled with people, we should be giving ourselves the opportunity to see what our big brains can do to reverse some of the bad things that we’ve done to the world already,” said Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer.
The de-extinction of the dire wolf has significant implications for conservation efforts.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Follow us on social media:
Image courtesy of Collosal Bioscience
Have a similar story or something unique to share? Email us at [email protected], we would love to hear from you!