La trampa de Colossal, la empresa que 'resucita' especies extinguidas: "Parece un lobo gigante, pero es un perro"

Colossal Biosciences and De-extinction

Colossal Biosciences aims to 'de-extinct' animals like the dire wolf and mammoth using genetic engineering. Their approach involves creating hybrids with modern relatives, incorporating genetic traits from extinct species.

Dire Wolf Project

Colossal created three dire wolf puppies through gene editing, incorporating traits into gray wolves to create a larger, whiter coat. However, the dire wolf's evolutionary divergence from modern canids raises questions about whether this is true de-extinction.

Ethical and Scientific Concerns

Experts question the ethical and environmental implications of releasing these genetically modified animals into the wild. The long-term effects on ecosystems and the lack of published research raise concerns about Colossal's methods. The success of Colossal's gene editing techniques is notable, but the overarching goal of de-extinction remains debated.

• De-extinction is not cloning, as the DNA of extinct animals isn't sufficiently well preserved.
• A significant number of genetic differences exist between the dire wolf and its modern relatives.
• The project's aims are unclear beyond generating public attention.

Mammoth Project

Colossal's mammoth project faces challenges due to the significant genetic differences between modern elephants and mammoths. While they have created 'woolly mice' with some mammoth-like traits, a true mammoth remains a distant goal.