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Colossal Biosciences Claims “De-Extinction” of Dire Wolf: A US-based company claims to have revived traits of the extinct dire wolf by genetically engineering grey wolf pups.
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Birth of Modified Wolf Pups: Three pups, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, were born in late 2024 with edited DNA.
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Genetic Engineering Process:
- DNA was extracted from ancient dire wolf fossils (11,500 to 72,000 years old).
- The dire wolf genome was reconstructed and compared to closely related canids. Grey wolves share 99.5% of DNA similarity.
- Scientists made 20 unique edits to 14 genes in the grey wolf genome to mimic dire wolf traits like coat color, size, and musculature.
- Modified embryos were implanted into surrogate dog mothers.
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De-Extinction Definition: The process of reviving extinct species using biotechnology, including gene editing, cloning, or back-breeding.
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Potential Benefits (India): De-extinction could aid in restoring keystone species to rebalance ecosystems and boost biodiversity.
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Ethical Concerns:
- Potential ecosystem disruption.
- Animal welfare issues.
- Resource diversion from conserving extant endangered species.
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Global Initiatives: The Lazarus Project collaborates with Indian researchers on reviving the extinct Himalayan Quail.
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International Frameworks: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) urges caution, prioritizing habitat protection over de-extinction.
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Why in News: This initiative highlights the advancements and controversies surrounding de-extinction, sparking debates about its potential benefits and risks for biodiversity and conservation efforts.
