Dire Wolves Are Back (And This Is How They Did It)

Scientists have revived the Game of Thrones animal star, the Dire Wolf, more than 12,500 years after going extinct.

Professor Andrew Pask was one of the scientists involved in the de-extinction and he joins us.

#DireWolf #GameofThrones #DeExtinction

[MalvakaiP]

A little Google for the lazy people...

Dire wolves were not wolves. Ancient dire wolves and modern gray wolves were genetically distinct and COULD NOT INTERBREED, according to a 2021 study that analyzed their DNA.

Dire wolves belonged to an ancient, separate canid lineage, meaning they diverged from the ancestors of modern gray wolves and coyotes long ago.

Genetic analysis revealed NO EVIDENCE OF INTERBREEDING between dire wolves and either gray wolves or coyotes.

The resemblance between dire wolves and gray wolves is an example of convergent evolution, where species independently evolve similar traits due to similar lifestyles, not because they are closely related.

Colossal Biosciences's Recent Work:
While Colossal Biosciences recently announced the creation of "dire wolf" pups using gene-editing technology, these are not true dire wolves, but rather gray wolves with edited genes to resemble dire wolves.

[houayek]

after watching this all I could think is: Make the Dodo great again

[cavetroll]

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should"

[Hellseeker]

I think I figured out how Mars ended up the way it is.

[GigatheChad]

You can tell these are dire wolves because they are already the size of a grey wolf and have much wider snouts

[theKingsAmbassadors]

New genetically-engineered wolves that resemble the dire wolf.

[tarsinsigmundson]

They are not dire wolves . Its a bit of sensationalism,

[Hellseeker]

"See it's nothing, look just cute little wolves" Meanwhile in the basement of the Mad Scientist recreating The Thing as a bio weapon.

[anthonyl.kellyakawritedisw]

I wonder when are they going to admit to us that they’ve cloned dead people already??? “Steups! Dire wolf my butt!”

[JO-kplk]

'Dire Wolves ? You bred Dire Wolves ?'

'Say again ?

'We've bred Dire Wolves !'

!'

[DrTucker]

It'd have been more credible if they'd have used an african jackal as a base instead of a gray wolf, since they're the closest living relatives of the dire wolf.

[quinhaz]

It's not like they were bring back dinosaurs. LOL

[Mark]

The Dire wolf became extinct 12, 500 years ago. What is the basis for comparison?

I think we would have a better idea of their work when we see the dodo and Tasmania tiger.

[NickThorbjørnsen]

So we're not worried about the Thylacine or the Dodo or the Caspian Tiger.... we chose an animal that went extinct naturally.

Also it's April so I'm not 100% concinced.

[oxvendivil]

Of course it is the wrong idea! they should have revived a mosasaur instead!

[jeffadams]

Not scary not one bit . Saber tooth lion next

[Brian-gjxm]

Russia has breaded German shepards with wolves to create a war dogs.

[wanderer]

Lets we call them breed of wolf. They are not dire wolves just lookalike. Just like dog breeds.

[MichaelSmith-pxev]

This is a hybrid of grey wolf so it is not a complete dire wolf

[Hstoryguy-]

These aren't actual Dire wolves, but they are still cute.