Summary of “Dire Wolf” Article
The Virginian-Pilot article being summarized here is dated April 14, 2025. This article
discusses the genetic engineering efforts made by Colossal Biosciences to recreate the traits of
the dire wolf, which is an extinct species of wolf. This recreation was done by editing the DNA
of gray wolves. To be more specific, these scientists introduced mutations into the gray wolf
DNA that mimic dire wolf characteristics, such as their larger size, coat density, pale colored fur.
The article highlights the ethical and ecological implications of de-extinction and the potential
this science may provide in the conservation of endangered species like the red wolf. While the
recreated dire wolves are not exact copies of dire wolves, they still provide a better emphasis on
the abilities and importance of genetic engineering and conservation biology.
The article’s claims are supported in a scientific review published by Cambridge Prisms:
Extinction. This review discusses the advancements in paleo-genomics and genetic editing
techniques. It also explores the philosophical and ethical considerations of de-extinction, such as
ecological impacts, and moral or ethical issues involving the return of extinct species. This
scientific review goes through the methodologies and ethical advantages and disadvantages of
de-extinction, the possible restorations that can be done through genetic engineering, and it
emphasizes the importance of functional ecosystems in our world. The Virginian-Pilot article
aligns their article information with scientific perspectives used by the Cambridge Prisms article
and accurately describes the potential and issues or limitations of de-extinction technology. Even
though the Virginia Pilot is not a scientific news source, it still provided accurate information
that is supported by scientific sources, and it has a clear relation to genetics as a whole, seeing as
it has to do with the alteration of DNA.
Citations
– Colossal Biosciences. (2025). Direwolf de-extinction project. Retrieved from Colossal
Biosciences
– Jepson, P. R. (2025). De-extinction beyond species: Restoring ecosystem functionality
through large herbivore rewilding. Cambridge Prisms: Extinction, 3, e3.
– Shapiro, B., et al. (2025). Philosophy and ethics of de-extinction. Cambridge Prisms:
Extinction, 3, e6.
– Virginian-Pilot, The. (2025, April 14). Dire wolf: De-extinction progress and challenges.
The Virginian-Pilot, p. 4.