Scientists Successfully Revive Ancient ‘Dire Wolf’ Species Using Genetic Engineering”

Scientists Successfully Revive Ancient ‘Dire Wolf’ Species Using Genetic Engineering”

 #DireWolf #GeneticEngineering #DeExtinction #ColossalBiosciences #WolfScience #AncientSpecies #DNAReconstruction #ConservationScience #WildlifeRestoration #InnovationInScience 

A US bioscience company has reconstructed the complete genome of a wolf species, the dire wolf, which went extinct more than 10 millennia ago, producing three wolf cubs that resemble their ancient ancestors.

These three cubs, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, range in age from three to six months and are expected to grow larger and more muscular than modern gray wolves. Colossal Biosciences, the company behind this achievement, stated that if the cubs reach adulthood, they could weigh up to 68 kilograms and measure 1.8 meters in length.

Researchers at Colossal Biosciences used ancient DNA from fossils dating back 11,500 to 72,000 years to reconstruct the genome of the dire wolf. They genetically modified blood cells from a gray wolf at 20 different sites and then transferred this modified genetic material into egg cells from domestic dogs. Embryos were implanted in surrogates (domestic dogs), and the cubs were born 62 days later.

The pups are currently being fed a diet of beef, horse, and deer meat, as well as puppy chow. Although these pups are unlikely to learn to hunt large prey due to the absence of parental guidance, they are a key part of Colossal’s broader goals: not only recreating extinct species but also helping to conserve those on the brink of extinction.