What Are Dire Wolves?
Dire wolves were massive and strong dogs that inhabited North America during the Age before disappearing around 12,500 years ago. Today, many people recognize them, through their appearances as the Stark families pets, in the popular series Game of Thrones. However in the past these wolves were much more fearsome, a species with no close living relatives.
The Big News
A milestone occurred, in the field of science. Colossal, based in Texas has made claims about bringing Dire Wolves back to life. By utilizing scientific tools, the company created three puppies named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi using the DNA of modern gray wolves. These fluffy and healthy pups represent a milestone as they mark the instance in history where a species has been resurrected.
How Did They Do It?
Colossal used gene editing techniques. They began with gray wolves, which are the relatives of dire wolves. They modified parts of the gray wolf DNA to make the puppies resemble dire wolves in appearance and behavior. The edited cells were then inserted into dog eggs and carried by dog mothers until the puppies were born.
Are These Real Dire Wolves?
Many experts say the answer is No, theyre not.
Even though the puppies may resemble Dire Wolves, they are primarily gray wolves with just a few minor differences. In fact, scientists state that their DNA remains 99.5% identical to that of a wolf with the variations mostly influencing aspects like coat color and size.
While 0.5% may seem small it actually represents over 12 million distinctions in their genetic makeup!
Why Are Scientists Doing This?
Even if these puppies aren’t “real” Dire Wolves, what Colossal did is quite remarkable. It demonstrates the progress in science. The company aims to use this kind of research to safeguard animals, such as red wolves.
Even if the Dire Wolves aren’t really back, this type of science could help in safeguarding animals that we are losing today. It serves as a reminder that protecting the animals we have is an easier task than attempting to revive them.
