I wouldn’t call it de-extinction unless they made something that is 100% identical genetically to the thing they are bringing back.
use it on strangers
Submitted 2 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to science_memes@mander.xyz
https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/fe16c1a9-d822-4136-8770-cf28c729e1c9.jpeg
Comments
Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 months ago
hansolo@lemm.ee 2 months ago
And they don’t have 100% of the dire wolf DNA sequenced, nor do they have DNA of the dire wolf’s extinct ancestor between it and Canis lupus. It’s a grey wolf with genes from a dire wolf added in.
lemmur@szmer.info 2 months ago
Aaand they do not have mtDNA.
Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
or like, actually looks like what we think they looked, rather than what was depicted in a fictional story
TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
de-extinction ≈ decompilation, apparently
javiwhite@feddit.uk 2 months ago
Does that make extinction a form of obfuscation?
bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
Same question: If a species evolves due to adapt to a changed environment, is the original species extinct?
Yes, yes it is. That’s why a species ‘going extinct’ doesn’t always mean that it suddenly died off.
meyotch@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
I think the term for that is chronospecies?
FilthyShrooms@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Nah that’s a great way to start a conversation
Mothra@mander.xyz 2 months ago
Love this one
Wilco@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Haha … but seriously … does it? I don’t think so. Now if they brought back that rhino species that just went extinct that would count.
TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Would they be able to do it with god-like perfection, or would it only be a grey wolf that resembles our idea of dire wolves based only on what we’ve been able to learn?
gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
most genetic differences happen on the biochemical level, i.e. different hormones and metabolism. superficial appearance is only a (very) small part of what defines a species. so i guess the answer is: not really, no.
ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 2 months ago
They did have the genome, right? Why not just clone that? They could then add mutations in the amount that normally occurs in grey wolf populations to get a sufficiently diverse population going.
InFerNo@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Fill in the gaps with frog DNA
Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 months ago
“It’s okay, they can’t breed in captivity. They’re all female.”
Frog DNA: “Not so fast…”
theneverfox@pawb.social 2 months ago
Also, what is the game plan here? To sell GMO exhibits to zoos? To try to do a Jurassic Park, but without dinosaurs?
Agent641@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Releasing wolves in Yellowstone stabilised the ecosystem there. Releasing direwolves on Wall St might stabilise the economy.
JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee 2 months ago
The wolves of wall street?
BrazenSigilos@ttrpg.network 2 months ago
Might need to make the location change to Pennsylvania Ave for a greater effect.
ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
They are making game of thrones real. Lots of whores and titties, big ass wolves, religious cults taking over government, zombies, crucifixions, people being eaten by dragons.
meyotch@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
No incest? :(
Cethin@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
In an ideal world, it’d be to de-extinct fairly modern things that filled a niche that is no longer being filled. This is far from an ideal world though, and the reason in this world is to make press releases to get people talking about it so they can raise more money while not creating anything of actual value.
theneverfox@pawb.social 2 months ago
Okay let’s play that out… Everyone gets excited, they make big strong wolves and get funding… Now what?
They’ve got a pack of extra big wolves raised under human care. Do they kill them? Do they sell them? Do they open their own park? Do they just keep them for study? Do they just leave the gate open and let them go?
Obi@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
Probably start with one or a few cool scientists with that original purpose, then by the time it can take life it’s gone through the enshittification machine.
GreatTitEnthusiast@mander.xyz 2 months ago
The point is to get people excited so they can get funding to keep developing the technologies that will make this kind of genetic engineering commercially viable
theneverfox@pawb.social 2 months ago
Sure… But now they’ve got these wolves for the next 14 years
They can’t “reextinct” dire wolves or release them, so they’re now in the zoo business one way or the other
pineapplelover@lemm.ee 2 months ago
I just watched some youtube video and they were talking about how the CIA and big moneys people are heavily invested in this company. Makes me think they’re in it to make genetically modified animals or even people for “national security” or something.
eutsgueden@lemm.ee 2 months ago
National security? Nah, those ghouls want to live forever.
DogWater@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Gattaca
quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
This is exactly it. This is just training for children customisation.
qarbone@lemmy.world 2 months ago
To say they did?
theneverfox@pawb.social 2 months ago
And now they have a pack of XL sized wolves… That’s not like making a glow in the dark cat, that’s either the main plan or a very big problem