Scientists revived the extinct "dire" wolves — photos
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The American scientists have revived the "dire" wolves that became extinct more than 10,000 years ago. These "direwolves" became famous thanks to the TV show Game of Thrones.
The revival was reported by TIME magazine.
Revival of the extinct "dire" wolves — details
The biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences has announced the birth of three puppies of the dire wolf species, the predators that became extinct more than 10,000 years ago and became famous thanks to the TV show Game of Thrones.
Scientists analysed DNA obtained from ancient samples — a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull bone — and found about 20 genetic differences between grey wolves and dire wolves. These changes were then introduced into grey wolf cells using CRISPR, after which the modified nuclei were transferred to eggs, from which embryos developed. Of the 45 embryos created, three were successfully implanted into dog surrogate mothers.
The newborns were named Remus, Romulus, and Khaleesi. These wolves were born on October 1, 2024, in one of the nature reserves in the United States.
They live in the special 2,000-acre reserve in the United States, where they are constantly monitored. These wolves have the characteristics of a dire wolf, including a larger body size, wider head and white coat colour. As adults, they are expected to reach the length of 1.8 meters and the weight of about 68 kg.
This breakthrough in genetics has generated considerable interest and debate in the scientific community. Some experts question whether these animals can be considered real dire wolves, as they are genetically modified grey wolves. Others see this achievement as a potential for biodiversity conservation and the restoration of extinct species.
It is worth noting that dire wolves are not directly related to modern grey wolves. Genetic studies have shown that they diverged from a common ancestor about 5.7 million years ago, making them closer to jackals than to grey wolves.
This case raises important ethical questions about the restoration of extinct species and the potential consequences of such actions for ecosystems and biodiversity.
As we reported earlier, researchers from the United States have succeeded in quantum teleportation.
As a reminder, the United States has completed the study of the unique HIV vaccine. The studies have shown extraordinary effectiveness at 99 percent.
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