Dire Straits?

 

Martha Gill notes that Colossal Biosciences have claimed they have 'de-extincted' the Dire wolf. This is completely wrong as all they have done is a bit of gene editing of the Grey wolf, making it more muscly and changing its fur to white. Mammalian species, like wolves, have billions of DNA bases in their genome. In actuality, only 20 of these were changed. Even if it was possible to bring back an extinct species, there would often be no appropriate habitat for that animal. Habitat loss is a major extinction cause. Any 'resuscitated' animal also couldn't be reared by its mother and/or incorporated into a social group. It couldn't learn the skills needed to thrive. Gill points out, that much more could be achieved, if the money spent on 'de-extinction', was instead used to conserve endangered species. She even records that some policy makers have recently opined that conservation regulations can be relaxed because " the technology exists to bring all extinct species back." This is dangerous 'pie in the sky' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/12/why-resurrect-the-dire-wolf-when-existing-animals-are-facing-extinction). The kinds of technologies used by Colossal Biosciences, appeal to folk because they seem clever and rather 'science fiction'-like. In actuality, conserving habitats and currently endangered species, would give much more 'bang for the buck'.  .