Scientists say they revived dire wolf

[CF DolFan]

After thousands of years they have birthed three dire wolves through DNA and a wolf that was like 98% related. They hope to soon bring back the woolly mammoth. The dire wolves are named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi.

I think its pretty cool but am a bit concerned they will bring back dinosaurs. Guess I've seen too much Jurassic Park .... hahahaha






Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/dire-wolf-extinct-for-years-brought-back-to-life-using-ancient-dna-and-modern-science-1.10493225



https://abcnews.go.com/US/dire-wolf-revived-biotech-companys-de-extinction-process/story?id=120558562

[Pappy13]

The question is whether a Gray Wolf is really that similar to a Dire Wolf. Their DNA might be nearly identical, but that doesn't necessarily mean the 2 species are nearly identical. According to some scientists what they have is not a Dire Wolf but a modified Gray Wolf that looks like a Dire Wolf. Whether or not that's really a Dire Wolf is speculation.

[Downunder Dolphan]

The question is whether a Gray Wolf is really that similar to a Dire Wolf. Their DNA might be nearly identical, but that doesn't necessarily mean the 2 species are nearly identical. According to some scientists what they have is not a Dire Wolf but a modified Gray Wolf that looks like a Dire Wolf. Whether or not that's really a Dire Wolf is speculation.

That discussion made it to the news here Down Under:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/dire-wolves-de-extincted-claim-questioned-scientists/105149948

There's always been an interest here in this sort of thing, mainly because of the prospect bringing back the Thylacine (aka Tasmanian Tiger) back from extinction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacine

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Your scientists were so preoccupied by whether they could they never consider if they should.

[Phishfan]

Not a fan of this.

[CF DolFan]

Not a fan of this.

Why is that Phish?

[Denver2]

That discussion made it to the news here Down Under:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/dire-wolves-de-extincted-claim-questioned-scientists/105149948

There's always been an interest here in this sort of thing, mainly because of the prospect bringing back the Thylacine (aka Tasmanian Tiger) back from extinction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacine

If they can bring a tiger back it will be much more convincing than this dire wolf hybrid which is cool but I’m not sure if it’s truly a dw

[CF DolFan]

If they can bring a tiger back it will be much more convincing than this dire wolf hybrid which is cool but I’m not sure if it’s truly a dw

Lets see how big they get. Male dire wolves are about  68 kg (150 lb) and are much taller than our current wolves.

[Denver2]

Lets see how big they get. Male dire wolves are about  68 kg (150 lb) and are much taller than our current wolves.

Agreed, it will be interesting to see if they grow up ok and with no health issues and sometimes happens with genetic engineering.

If we can bring back extinct animals or stabilizie threatened animal species I am all for this.

[Phishfan]

Why is that Phish?

It is playing God in my opinion. As Hoodie said just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. I liken this to the advances scientists will be trying with AI. As I like to say, I've seen both these movies and I don't like how they turn out.

[Spider-Dan]

As Hoodie said just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.

You know that's a quote from Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park, right?

[CF DolFan]

It is playing God in my opinion. As Hoodie said just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. I liken this to the advances scientists will be trying with AI. As I like to say, I've seen both these movies and I don't like how they turn out.

I get it. I just don't see an issue with something like this. If they were bringing back a t-rex or pterodactyl l I might have concerns.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I get it. I just don't see an issue with something like this. If they were bringing back a t-rex or pterodactyl l I might have concerns.

If we were bringing back something that recent human activity had caused to go extinct, I would be cool with it.  But bringing back a long since extinct species serves no benefit. 

This is by its very definition an invasive species in any modern day habitat.  If it was released or escaped into the wild it would be a menace to livestock and natural prey and would likely kill off other endangered wolves.  Plus they are large enough that humans would be their prey.  And those are the obvious consequences this will undoubtedly have unknown unintended consequences.  Any time we bioengineering there are unintended consequences.  I generally support progress because often the intended positive benefits outweigh the risk of the negative consequences.  But in this case there is no benefit and huge easily forseeable risk. 

[Dave Gray]

I am torn about stuff like this.

I'm 100% behind bringing back species that we have killed off due to human recklessness.

Even in other species that were gone before us -- it's playing God?  Who cares?  We genetically create new species all time time with selective breeding -- we combine elements of jellyfish with aquarium fish to make new species.  This is just another version of that.  I would argue that when someone says it's not natural -- humans and our involvement is natural.

I don't think we should be releasing T-Rex into the breeding population, but for starters, bringing back the Tasmanian tiger or something -- I got no beef with it.

[Phishfan]

You know that's a quote from Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park, right?

I didn't. I saw the movie over 20 years ago and don't think I ever revisited it for a second viewing.