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CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
In a major milestone for genetic science, researchers at Colossal Biosciences—a Texas-based biotechnology firm—have successfully brought back the dire wolf, a species that vanished roughly 12,500 years ago. This scientific breakthrough has led to the birth of two genetically engineered dire wolf pups, named Romulus and Remus, with a third pup, Khaleesi, born a few months later. These developments mark a significant step forward in the field of de-extinction and synthetic biology.
About Dire Wolf: A Lost Apex Predator
The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) was a formidable predator that once roamed across North America during the Pleistocene epoch. Heavier and more powerfully built than today’s grey wolves, dire wolves preyed on large herbivores such as bison and prehistoric horses. Their extinction is believed to have been triggered by a combination of climate change, the extinction of their prey, and human activities such as hunting. Despite their close resemblance to grey wolves, genetic analysis has confirmed that dire wolves belonged to a distinct evolutionary branch.
Scientists Brought Dire Wolf Back
The de-extinction process began with the extraction of ancient DNA from two fossilized remains—a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull fragment. These samples allowed scientists to sequence the dire wolf’s genome and compare it to modern canid species, ultimately selecting the grey wolf as the most compatible genetic relative.
Using CRISPR and other precision gene-editing techniques, researchers modified the DNA of grey wolf embryos to introduce characteristics specific to dire wolves. These embryos were then implanted into domestic dog surrogates, leading to the successful birth of genetically engineered pups.
Birth And Behaviour Of New Pups
The first two pups, Romulus and Remus, were born in October 2024, followed by Khaleesi in January 2025. All three are being raised under careful supervision in a specially designed 2,000-acre wildlife enclosure, which mimics natural environments. Interestingly, the pups have shown behavioural traits more aligned with ancient canids than domestic dogs, preferring isolation and showing minimal human interaction—traits that may reflect their ancestral instincts.
Ethical And Scientific Implications
Although the pups share approximately 99.5% of their DNA with grey wolves, scientists caution that they are not exact replicas of the original dire wolves. Their revival raises philosophical and biological questions: What defines a species? Can something created through gene editing truly be considered the same as an extinct animal?
Concerns also exist about the long-term survival of such animals. Since they lack social behaviours necessary for survival in the wild, their ability to form packs or integrate into natural ecosystems is uncertain.
Mammoths And Dodos
Colossal Biosciences has ambitious plans beyond the dire wolf. The company is also working to revive the woolly mammoth and the dodo bird, using similar genetic reconstruction methods. However, the viability and ethics of these projects continue to be widely debated within the scientific community.
Bigger Picture: Conservation Through Genetics
This remarkable feat in genetic engineering may signal a new era in conservation. Technologies used in de-extinction could also aid endangered species, bolster biodiversity, and help restore damaged ecosystems. However, the concept of reviving extinct animals poses crucial ethical questions: Should we interfere with nature’s course? Are we prepared to manage these revived species responsibly?
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