Biotech company Colossal Biosciences said it has brought back the dire wolf, an animal that went extinct 10,000 years ago, through its de-extinction process.
I think it’s interesting and worthwhile research but I agree with you that they’re overhyping this and it leaves a lot to be desired. To make real dire wolves at minimum we would need much more complete DNA, and maybe more beyond that.
This was unethical research though. They basically tweaked a few things in a wolf without regard to quality of life.
And the changes are so superficial that it reminds me of a gimmick to raise more money; I actually looked for references to crypto and block chain, in case they went there too.
Why would a few tweaks negatively affect their quality of life? I completely agree the marketing is scummy and a gimmick but it is the next step in this type of research, if you ignore the spin.
Physically, hips. Bane of larger wolves. Then we have how that new fur changes their comfort and heat regulation . It’s more than cosmetic: hundreds of variables
Then there is psychology: how all this affects their feelings, how it affects other wolves interacting with them.
Notice the pups are bottle fed: lack of maternal care. Having taken in many dogs, I know that really is important. Then, finally isolation.
Given how the press release and non peer reviewed paper overhypes. I’m not sure if I would want these people to be my vet, never mind dna tinkers.
Maybe you are right. The lack of transparency is the most concerning to me and in that situation maybe it’s best not to assume that the changes are benign. It’s up to them to prove they are, which so far they haven’t done.
I think it’s interesting and worthwhile research but I agree with you that they’re overhyping this and it leaves a lot to be desired. To make real dire wolves at minimum we would need much more complete DNA, and maybe more beyond that.
This was unethical research though. They basically tweaked a few things in a wolf without regard to quality of life.
And the changes are so superficial that it reminds me of a gimmick to raise more money; I actually looked for references to crypto and block chain, in case they went there too.
Why would a few tweaks negatively affect their quality of life? I completely agree the marketing is scummy and a gimmick but it is the next step in this type of research, if you ignore the spin.
Physically, hips. Bane of larger wolves. Then we have how that new fur changes their comfort and heat regulation . It’s more than cosmetic: hundreds of variables
Then there is psychology: how all this affects their feelings, how it affects other wolves interacting with them.
Notice the pups are bottle fed: lack of maternal care. Having taken in many dogs, I know that really is important. Then, finally isolation.
Given how the press release and non peer reviewed paper overhypes. I’m not sure if I would want these people to be my vet, never mind dna tinkers.
Maybe you are right. The lack of transparency is the most concerning to me and in that situation maybe it’s best not to assume that the changes are benign. It’s up to them to prove they are, which so far they haven’t done.
Well said!