Scientists at Colossal Biosciences have successfully revived the dire wolf, a species that lived during the Pleistocene epoch, by genetically modifying gray wolves and introducing extinct genes back into life in living animals.
The story of dire wolves goes beyond de-extinction
Genetic tools used to create the fluffy, white pups could be used to help at-risk animals. Scientists at Colossal Biosciences announced the de-extinction of dire wolves, animals that lived during the Pleistocene.
Colossal Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on genetic engineering and gene editing.
Founded in 2021, the company aims to bring back extinct species through 'genetic revival'.
Their first project involves reviving the woolly mammoth using Asian elephant DNA.
This technology has potential applications in conservation, medicine, and agriculture.
Colossal Biosciences is working with leading scientists and institutions to develop and refine their methods.
What makes a dire wolf?
The issue largely boils down to genetics. Colossal didn’t create the animals from a fully reconstructed dire wolf genome. Instead, the company relied on the genetic instruction book of a gray wolf, making changes to it based on ancient DNA recovered from two dire wolf specimens.
For something to be considered a dire wolf, it should have the full genetic blueprint of a dire wolf. However, Colossal has done just that – create a genetically modified gray wolf. This type of thinking ‘kind of misses the point,’ says Beth Shapiro, chief science officer at Colossal Biosciences in Dallas.
Colossal’s goal wasn’t to create something genetically identical to a dire wolf, but rather to resurrect the animal’s core attributes, like size, body type, and face shape. By making a handful of genetic changes, ‘we’ve brought these extinct genes back to life in a living animal,’ Shapiro says.
Extinct genes are remnants of genetic material that once played a crucial role in the evolution and survival of an organism.
These genes have been lost over time due to various factors such as mutation, natural selection, or genetic drift.
Research suggests that up to 20% of human genes may be considered 'fossil' genes, with some dating back millions of years.
The study of extinct genes provides valuable insights into the history of life on Earth and can inform our understanding of modern diseases and traits.
The implications for conservation
Colossal is no stranger to controversy. Last month, the company garnered acclaim with its announcement of “woolly mice,” luxuriously tressed mice with genetic modifications inspired by woolly mammoths.
The team’s technology goes beyond crafting a dire wolf, though. Other Colossal research on the red wolf shows how new tools might aid last-ditch efforts to save species that are critically endangered. ‘I think there’s a huge range of applications, both for medicine and conservation,’ says Paul Wilson, a wildlife geneticist at Trent University Ontario in Peterborough.
Paul Wilson is a renowned wildlife geneticist who has made significant contributions to the field of conservation biology.
He has worked extensively on studying the genetics of endangered species, including mountain gorillas and African elephants.
Wilson's research focuses on understanding the impact of habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict on population dynamics.
His work has been instrumental in informing conservation strategies for protecting these species.
According to a study published by Wilson and his team, 'genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival of endangered populations.'
The genetics behind dire wolves
Dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus) roamed the Americas during the Pleistocene Epoch, which stretched from roughly 2.5 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago. Ancient DNA from two of these animals ended up informing the new pups’ biology.
Colossal scientists extracted DNA from a 13,000-year-old fossilized tooth from Ohio and a 72,000-year-old inner ear bone fossil from Idaho. However, getting a clear read of an animal’s genome from ancient DNA can be tough.
The team used this information to identify genetic tweaks that might make the gray wolf more dire wolf-like. They modified a coat color gene called CORIN, for example, which gave the pups their light fur. And they tweaked genes linked to body size and ear and skull shape.
Are dire wolves really dire?
Critics of Colossal’s work have been vocal about dire wolves not actually being wolves at all. This argument seems to be based largely on a 2021 Nature paper that attempted to reconstruct the animals’ evolutionary history.
However, new research suggests that dire wolves may be more closely related to gray wolves than previously thought. A preprint published by Colossal Biosciences counters one common critique of the work, showing that dire wolves may indeed be more wolf-like than once thought.
Conservation efforts for endangered species
Colossal’s technology might help save endangered animals. The company has been working with endangered red wolves (Canis rufus), which are on the brink of extinction. By boosting their genetic diversity, Colossal hopes to make them more adaptable to climate change and other challenges.
Red wolves, which are an endangered species, may one day benefit from Colossal’s technology. The team cloned four animals from red ghost wolf cells in the lab, carrying ancestral red wolf DNA that’s been lost in wild populations.
Ethical questions
Scientists outside of Colossal are eager to examine the pups, but there are also concerns about their behavioral and ecological well-being. Dire wolves long ago ‘lived in a completely different world,’ says Adam Hartstone-Rose, a comparative anatomist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
Parts of the planet were much colder then, and the animals that lived alongside them have also gone extinct. What’s more, Colossal doesn’t currently have a breeding population of the animals, so their pups don’t really have a pack to live and hunt and play with.
- sciencenews.org | The story of dire wolves goes beyond de extinction
