Colossal Biosciences Unveils Genetically Engineered Wolf Pups with Shadow Wolf Traits
The three wolf pups, Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, display physical characteristics of the extinct shadow wolf, but experts question their authenticity as true de-extinction specimens.
- Colossal Biosciences has revealed three genetically modified wolf pups housed in a private facility in the northern United States, claiming they exhibit traits of the extinct shadow wolf.
- The project involved editing 14 genes at 20 locations in the gray wolf genome using data from shadow wolf fossils sequenced in 2021.
- The pups, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, were created through embryos implanted into dog surrogates and are described as hybrids rather than true shadow wolves.
- Independent scientists argue the animals are genetically altered gray wolves with superficial similarities to shadow wolves, emphasizing the limitations of current de-extinction technology.
- The initiative highlights ongoing ethical and scientific debates about the feasibility and priorities of de-extinction efforts, with some experts advocating for conservation over species recreation.
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