Humans have caused many animals and plants to go extinct, and it was thought that these species would never return to Earth. However, some scientists from Colossal were able to form complete sets of genetic information from different extinct animals. Keep on reading to discover what they did with the genetic information and what animals were resurrected!
Three dire wolves are healthy and alive after 72.000 years!
Scientists were able to resurrect a wolf species that had gone extinct more than 10.000 years ago. By using DNA from a 13.000-year-old tooth and a 72.000-year-old skull. The genetically modified eggs were implanted in large breed hounds to carry the dire wolf eggs. The result after at least eight attempts? The birth of two healthy male Dire wolf pups and a couple of months later, one healthy female pup as well. These wolves now live in an enclosed area with a “Zoo-grade” fence.
The Dire Wolf is not the only animals being brought back!
While the birth of the Dire wolves got the most attention, it is not the only animal that was brought back already. Scientist resurrected the wooly mouse right before the wolves. However, this is not where they want to stop. These scientists are already trying to bring back the Dodo and the Wooly Mammoth as well! When they’re successful, the scientist will probably also try to bring back other animals which have gone extinct throughout history.
Have they learned nothing from Jurassic Park?
While it sounds cool that we’re able to bring animals back to life using millennia-old DNA, it probably is not the best idea. There are multiple movies where people have tried recreating “animals” with their DNA, and it always ends in the same way. Suddenly, humans are hunted by giant dinosaurs or other wild animals that have gone extinct throughout history.