What in the World
Why do scientists want to bring back extinct animals?
Apr 11, 2025
Victoria Gill, BBC's science correspondent, dives into the fascinating world of de-extinction. She discusses Colossal's ambitious project to revive the dire wolf, shedding light on the genetic techniques used and the challenges faced. Gill raises critical questions about the reality of recreating extinct species and clarifies that these dire wolves are actually genetically modified gray wolves. The conversation also touches on the ethical implications and ecological concerns tied to potentially reintroducing these creatures into today's world.
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Quick takeaways
- Colossal Biosciences has successfully produced genetically modified gray wolves resembling dire wolves, raising questions about their true identity and ecological role.
- The ethical implications of de-extinction efforts highlight concerns about potential neglect of ecosystem preservation in favor of genetic interventions.
Deep dives
The De-Extinction Claim
Colossal Biosciences claims to have brought the dire wolf back from extinction through genetic engineering, using ancient DNA. Scientists at the company have extracted damaged DNA from fossilized remains and compared it to the DNA of the gray wolf, its closest living relative, to identify genetic differences. By modifying gray wolf embryos with specific dire wolf DNA variants, they produced three puppies named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. While the genetic process is groundbreaking, experts emphasize that these animals are not true dire wolves but rather genetically modified gray wolves.
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