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“De-Extinction” Project Reignites Ethical And Technical Debate About The Return Of Extinct Species Using Ancient DNA
An imposing white wolf, with dense fur and a powerful build, graced the cover of Time magazine with a striking headline: the species has returned from extinction. The animal is popularly known as the terriwolf. However, according to experts, what is alive today is not the same wolf from the Ice Age.
The company Colossal Biosciences, based in the United States, announced an unprecedented achievement on April 7. It presented to the world what it calls the “first de-extinct animals.”
At the center of the announcement were three puppies: Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. They were born through an advanced genetic process. And, according to the company, they have the physical characteristics of the terriwolf.
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How The Genetic Process Was Done
Colossal’s initiative began with the extraction of ancient DNA from two fossils. A tooth about 13,000 years old found in Ohio and a piece of a skull from 72,000 years ago excavated in Idaho provided the necessary genetic information.
The scientists then compared this material with that of living species and found a “close relative”: the gray wolf, still existing in cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The next step was to identify the genetic differences between the terriwolf and the gray wolf.
The researchers detected the genes responsible for traits such as size, white fur, and body structure. Using the Crispr technique, 20 genetic edits were made in 14 genes of the gray wolf cells.
After the editing, the modified DNA was inserted into eggs that had their nuclei removed. These eggs were implanted in the uterus of a domestic dog, which gave birth to the three puppies in normal pregnancies.
Romulus and Remus were born in October 2024. Khaleesi, the female, was born in January 2025. The animals live in a private reserve in the U.S., the location of which is kept confidential.
Questions From The Scientific Community
Despite Colossal Biosciences’ enthusiasm, several experts have expressed doubts. The main point of discussion is whether what has been done can truly be called “de-extinction.”
According to a report from BBC, paleogeneticist Nic Rawlence from the University of Otago stated that the ancient DNA extracted from the fossils was too damaged to allow for direct cloning.
He compared the ancient DNA to material placed in an oven at 500 degrees: fragmented and unusable for direct reproduction.
Rawlence claims that what occurred was the use of synthetic biology to identify specific genetic segments and replicate them in the DNA of the gray wolf.
The result, according to him, is a hybrid. “It’s a gray wolf with some traits of the prehistoric wolf, such as a larger skull and white fur,” he said.
Another point raised by Rawlence is that terriwolves and gray wolves belong to different genera.
The evolutionary separation between the species occurred between 2.5 million and 6 million years ago. According to him, Colossal altered only 20 genes among the 19,000 present in the compared genomes. This would not be enough to claim that it is the same extinct animal.
Technology In Development
Another important point is that Colossal’s project is still in its early stages. The three created animals do not have permission to live freely in the wild, nor is there forecast for reproduction among them. Everything remains under control in a secure reserve.
For science communicator Sérgio Sacani, Colossal’s achievement is not cloning. It is a sophisticated work of genetic engineering, well executed according to him, even though the recreated wolves are not exactly the same as they were 10,000 years ago.
The case of the created wolves also raises ethical and ecological discussions. Even though the animals are not released, the question arises: to what extent should we intervene in nature? And if one day they are introduced into the environment, how will they interact with current species?
A dúvida que colocaram no texto, até que ponto devemos intervir na natureza? Estamos o tempo todo fazendo isso! Estamos acabando com ecossistema do planeta Terra, então qual é o problema de desextinção para que surgem novamente. Lembrando que muitos foram extintos pelo homem.