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Title: No, the Dire Wolf Has Not Been Brought Back From Extinction

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/04/08/0...

Colossal Biosciences has claimed it "successfully restored" the extinct dire
wolf after a "10,000+ year absence," but scientists clarify these are
actually genetically modified grey wolves. The U.S. company announced three
pups -- males Remus and Romulus born in October, and female Khaleesi born in
January -- as dire wolves, but made only 20 genetic edits to grey wolves.
Beth Shapiro of Colossal told New Scientist that just 15 modifications were
based on dire wolf DNA, primarily targeting size, musculature and ear shape.
Five other changes involve mutations known to produce light coats in grey
wolves. A 2021 DNA study revealed dire wolves and grey wolves last shared a
common ancestor about 6 million years ago, with jackals and African wild dogs
more closely related to grey wolves.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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