Aenocyon dirus.

Why in News? An American biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, has claimed to have successfully recreated a genetically modified version of the extinct dire wolf through the process of de-extinction. This has raised debates about the ethics, feasibility, and implications of bringing extinct species back to life.

Key Points from the Article:

1. About the Dire Wolf:

   • Scientific Name: Aenocyon dirus.

   • Lived in North America around 13,000 years ago.

   • Known for their larger size, strong builds, and resemblance to modern wolves, but with distinct differences like larger teeth and robust frames.

   • Went extinct due to changes in prey availability and competition with other predators.

2. The “De-Extinction” Process:

   • Colossal Biosciences used ancient DNA from dire wolf fossils to reconstruct its genome.

   • Scientists filled in the gaps in dire wolf DNA with genes from modern wolves and dogs.

   • The genetic makeup of the new pups shares 99.5% of their DNA with dire wolves, making them functional analogs of the extinct species.

3. Recreated Dire Wolves:

   • The company has bred three genetically modified pups named Remus, Romulus, and Khaleesi at a private research facility.

   • These wolves are not exact replicas but closely resemble the original species.

4. Ethical and Biological Questions:

   • Are they truly “dire wolves”?

     • Some scientists argue these are not pure dire wolves due to modern genetic modifications.

   • What constitutes a species?

     • Debates center around the definition of “species” and whether genetic engineering can create authentic replicas.

   • Uncertain ecological impact:

     • Reintroducing such species raises questions about ecological balance and the potential risks to modern ecosystems.

5. Implications of De-Extinction:

   • Positive Aspects:

     • Advances in genetic engineering and conservation science.

     • Potential to revive ecosystems disrupted by the extinction of keystone species.

   • Concerns:

     • Ethical dilemmas about playing God.

     • Risks of introducing modified organisms into the wild.

Conclusion:

While the achievement demonstrates the potential of modern genetic technologies, it raises profound ethical and ecological questions. This development is a landmark in synthetic biology but also underscores the need for stringent regulations and public discourse on the implications of de-extinction projects.