Direwolf has been Cloned

[Takama]

Yeah,  and it comes from a Time article as well.


Im skeptical, but I post it here for some of your guys thoghts

Link

[Shane]

So far it seems like all the articles are pulling their information out of the press release put out by Colossal Bioscience. I have yet to see any response from anyone in the scientific community.

In the USA Today article, this part seems telling: "Next, the Colossal researchers edited the gray wolf genome in 20 sites over 14 genes to express specific traits of dire wolves including a light-colored coat, hair length, coat patterning, along with body size and musculature...These newcomers are not 100% exactly the same dire wolf that roamed the earth ages ago, but look as genetically close as cutting-edge technology could get."

So if I'm understanding correctly (and maybe I'm not), it looks like they took the genomic info of a dire wolf, compared it with that of a grey wolf, and then tweaked the grey wolf genome to more closely resemble that of a dire wolf. So basically manipulating the DNA to produce traits that are similar to that of a dire wolf, in a related extant animal.

Which to me isn't really "de-extincting" something. It's more just tweaking a living creature to closely resemble an extinct relative.

[BlueKrono]

I agree S @Shane. It's the same thing they were doing number of years ago with chickens, tweaking the gene code to make them beakless and whatnot, trying to mimic a dinosaur. I wonder how that ever turned out...

[Faelrin]

Note: I was typing this up before others posted. I will not change my response.

Unfortunately it's nothing more then a genetically modified Canis lupus to have select traits to resemble one. No Aenocyon dirus material was directly used, although it appears to have been referenced in some manner.

Honestly I don't think it is correct to say the dire wolf has been brought back, as it truly isn't, especially now with Aenocyon being its own distinctive genus again. But of course thanks to Time reporting on this as such, it will just create more misinformation (or perhaps even disinformation, particularly towards the de-extinct thing that Time decided to do,as again, Aenocyon is still extinct) that will need corrected down the line, as I imagine most people won't read past the headline.

Then there's the whole argument if doing this very thing is even ethical in the first place. I mean have we learned nothing from watching Jurassic Park at least (particularly the lunch scene)? I suppose it's not much different then artificial selection with breeding dogs over generations, but sped up, but it's still worth asking these questions particularly because of the latter aspect.

This whole thing just rubs me the wrong way, even angers me.

[Carnoking]

I'm reminded of Alan Grant's response in Jurassic Park 3, "genetically engineered theme park monsters, nothing more, nothing less"

It's true that all of the headlines floating around are wildly misleading, perhaps at a level bordering on irresponsible. What this ultimately amounts to is just another GMO and saying the Dire Wolf has been "cloned" or "brought back from extinction" on the grounds of editing 14 genes is no more true than saying mammoths have successfully been brought back to life after they successfully bred their "woolly mice"

That said, it's still a very intriguing (dare I say, exciting) step forward for genetic research, paleontology and conservation efforts. I'll admit to being absolutely thrilled by this news when I first saw it and in some ways I still am despite my subsequent misgivings. The fact that they mapped the genome of a Dire Wolf is incredibly cool in and of itself even if that doesn't necessarily mean we can "clone them", and it is interesting to see how the changes they made to the genome manifest in these animals. Thomas Holtz actually made an interesting request to see CT and X-rays of the bones in order to compare the skeletons to the fossils of Dire Wolf proper.

Not only that, but I'm not buying into the whole "this is a waste of time, we should be saving living animals facing extinction" doom and gloom argument against this research. And I'm not saying that that work isn't important, it absolutely is, what I am saying is that this article clearly demonstrates how this technology and research is very specifically being used to help endangered species in the case of the Red Wolf. At the end of the day, conservation efforts need all the help they can get, and if flashy headlines like this are what it takes to get people on board with the work Colossal and others are doing in that department, then so be it.

[Trenchcoated Rebbachisaur]

Wait, since when did we know that Dire Wolves are pale? I didn't realize we knew their coat coloration/density?
...I am not even sure what exactly Colossal allegedly achieved here; because "pale fur grey wolf" is just something you can run into in the wild in northern populations. I guess the slightly bigger bones are nice? Maybe the differences will be more visible once they finish growing...?
I must say, I am no longer doubting Colossals ability to make a mammoth, but I am fully expecting it to be a dwarf Steppe mammoth with "good enough" shaped tusks.

[CityRaptor]

Eh, I guess it could be the Game of Thrones version of a Dire Wolf....wasn't there a white one named Ghost?

[TheCambrianCrusader]

It sounds a lot like they just made a big wolf and nothing more.

[Stegotyranno420]

No these aren't dire wolves these are Dire™ Wolves

[Trenchcoated Rebbachisaur]

I went on a bit of a research binge because the pale white fur in a non-tundra animal was driving me crazy. So on one hand, G.R.R.Martin is allegedly (according to Twitter) an Investor and Cultural Consultant for them. On the other, they did apparently use their fancy genome analysis to figure out Dire Wolves were at least pale (which, I guess, Grey Wolves also get paler in their southern range, so guess that tracks). Pure white seems a bit of a stretch to me personally still, but they'll drop a paper, I guess.

Also, here's a link to their own website, where you can read a lot of actually interesting stuff about Dire Wolf science, a little bit of stuff about their Temu Dire Wolves, a lot more stuff about Grey Wolf conservation 101, and a lot of pointless waffling.
https://colossal.com/direwolf/biology/

[Saarlooswolfhound]

As a canid family enthusiast, everything about this frustrates me beyond anger. This is ethically irresponsible and shameful, especially with the emotionally loaded language they are using to promote this test tube project.

These are not Aenocyon dirus in any degree. These are merely tweaked extant gray wolves intended to make profit. This doesn't even lend any benefit to conservation efforts in any degree- these animals will never be released into the wild and just to play a theoretical, they don't add anything to the existing landscape. They would naturally pose no real threat to human populations, at least anything beyond what already existing species do (predator or prey animal alike). And this applies to any and all of their projects- mammoths, thylacines, dodos, etc. The environments they lived in and niches they occupied are now adapted without them and reintroduction of them would likely be just as devestating in those same habitats as their original absence. Not to mention the ethical question of holding them in captivity to be nothing more than a biological curiosity.

And I don't mean to come off as disrespectful in any way- but this project does nothing more for conservation efforts other than prove that it can be done successfully (at least to produce a living creature). If this science and funding was applied to critically endangered *existing* populations then it would at least increase the potential success of genetic recovery. But by using it instead for this science fair project it only nets profit off of these captive genetically modified animals.

That's not Aenocyon dirus. Thats nothing more than the pop culture movie monster its been posed to be.

**EDIT** I haven't been able to read the article in its entirety nor review their website, I have only been able to read parts due to personal time constraints. But I only see the generalized commentary on wolves and their risk of extinction, nothing specifically about Colossal cloning animals for these conservation efforts. Please correct me if I am missing something! If this is true, that's great news! I just struggle with the ethical ramifications if this is merely a profiteering enterprise.

[Torvosaurus]

Interesting. I agree with the Dire^tm statement. These are grey wolves that have simply been genetically modified for specific traits.

I find it interesting that gray wolves are lighter the farther south you go. Wolves in Wyoming often range to the darker side, with one pack here having 5 of the 7 members ranging toward dark or black coats.

Torvo

[Trenchcoated Rebbachisaur]

And I don't mean to come off as disrespectful in any way- but this project does nothing more for conservation efforts other than prove that it can be done successfully (at least to produce a living creature). If this science and funding was applied to critically endangered *existing* populations then it would at least increase the potential success of genetic recovery. But by using it instead for this science fair project it only nets profit off of these captive genetically modified animals.

I agree with what you said mostly (even in the quoted paragraph), but they do keep these "Dire" Wolves at a facility where they also keep Red Wolves; and extensively use their website to talk about Gray Wolf conservation (even if it is largely just the barest basics).

I kinda liked the idea of a Prehistoric Park with living reconstructions in theory, but damn... Should'a stayed a "backstory for why there's extinct critters all over this setting" type narrative tool. Colossals actions here definitely umcomfortably remind me of the handling of the Glow-Fish in the way science and animal welfare take a backseat to bombastic news announcement, profit-suckling and marketing that does its darndest to conveniently ignore all the obvious ethical issues.

Interesting. I agree with the Dire^tm statement. These are grey wolves that have simply been genetically modified for specific traits.

I find it interesting that gray wolves are lighter the farther south you go. Wolves in Wyoming often range to the darker side, with one pack here having 5 of the 7 members ranging toward dark or black coats.

Torvo

The black coat genes are apparently from domestic dogs, I've been told? But yeah Wolves seem to get darker towards the middle of their range and lighter towards both extremes, but don't take that as a hard rule, especially for inbetween populations.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Interesting. I agree with the Dire^tm statement. These are grey wolves that have simply been genetically modified for specific traits.

I find it interesting that gray wolves are lighter the farther south you go. Wolves in Wyoming often range to the darker side, with one pack here having 5 of the 7 members ranging toward dark or black coats.

Torvo

The black coat genes are apparently from domestic dogs, I've been told? But yeah Wolves seem to get darker towards the middle of their range and lighter towards both extremes, but don't take that as a hard rule, especially for inbetween populations.

The black coloration is due to hybridization with very early domesticated dogs and is considered a very early gene mutation. It does occur "naturally" in this species is generally considered as melanism in individuals.

As for coat coloration, yes, your statement can be a generalized one for this group- but coat color varies widely in different populations around the globe and is not tied to climate directly. I.e. European wolves, Indian wolves, Tibetan wolves, prairie wolves, etc.are often pale in color, but can also be dark or red/brown. Not to mention that that both gray and black pelage often bleaches and becomes paler with age. For example, the mated pair wolves 21M and 42 F from Yellowstone National Park were both black but were nearly white at the end of their unusually long lives.

[Maritimer]

I am put in mind of the miniature elephant from the early chapters of Michael Crighton's "Jurassic Park".

~B.

[Turkeysaurus]

It needs extra white teeth , a tan , better hairline, maybe some fillers and some vitamins to work on those six pack.

[Libraraptor]

I do not trust the hype.

[andrewsaurus rex]

This sounds like another 'chickenosaurus' experiment to me.   I remain skeptical.

[Trenchcoated Rebbachisaur]

And welp, apparently nature-hating numpties are already using this to argue against animal conservationism. So yeah. Thanks for nothing, Colossal, hope you enjoy your roid wolves.

[Pliosaurking]

"Your scientists were so preoccupied whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
This could be a good thing or bad depending on what the future technology is used for.
I think if they brought back species that went extinct more recently caused by people it could be quite beneficial and more realistic.