In real life, Dire Wolves, resurrected from the dead

[Yaarel]

In real life, genetic engineering of the genome remains from the prehistoric species of Dire Wolves have made it possible for Gray Wolf surrogate mothers to birthe Dire Wolf puppies.

This is the first case of reversing the extinction of a species.

The three Dire Wolves are Romulus and Remus, and Khaleesi.

These puppies dont exhibit the playfulness and affection for humans that the puppies of domestic dogs do.

Lets see if the official stats matches the reality.


Dire Wolf
Large Beast, Unaligned

AC 14
Initiative +2 (12)
HP 22 (3d10 + 6)
Speed 50 ft.

mod

save

mod

save

mod

save

STR

17

+3

+3

DEX

15

+2

+2

CON

15

+2

+2

INT

3

-4

-4

WIS

12

+1

+1

CHA

7

-2

-2

Skills Perception +5, Stealth +4
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages —
PB +2 (XP 200; CR 1)

Traits
Pack Tactics. The wolf has Advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the wolf's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally doesn't have the Incapacitated condition.
Actions
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +5, reach 5 ft. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) Piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Prone condition.
Habitat: Forest, Hill
Source: MM 25, PH 24.

 

[Yaarel]

Link to the article:

The Return of the Dire Wolf

Colossal Biosciences has genetically engineered the first dire wolf to live in over 10,000 years. Here's what that means for other extinct species.

time.com

 

[MarkB]

The three Dire Wolves are Romulus and Remus, and Khaleesi.

Seriously, they referenced A Song of Ice and Fire, but didn't use any of the actual dire wolf names?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Seriously, they referenced A Song of Ice and Fire, but didn't use any of the actual dire wolf names?

Sounds like someone who passively watched the HBO show said, "We need a third name! (After Romulus & Remus) Aren't Dire Wolves in GoT? Sure. What name can you remember from GoT? Khaleesi! Done!"

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

In real life, genetic engineering of the genome remains from the prehistoric species of Dire Wolves have made it possible for Gray Wolf surrogate mothers to birthe Dire Wolf puppies.

This is the first case of reversing the extinction of a species.

Not what's actually happening, for the record. Time Magazine should be deeply embarrassed for taking PR puffery and turning into a front page story on something that's categorically untrue.

A gray wolf has given birth to a genetically modified wolf. Dire wolves were not wolves and the cubs that have been produced are not dire wolves themselves.

This is a start-up that is excellent at working the media and the public but is not actually accomplishing what people are imagining they are.

 

[Yaarel]

Not what's actually happening, for the record. Time Magazine should be deeply embarrassed for taking PR puffery and turning into a front page story on something that's categorically untrue.

A gray wolf has given birth to a genetically modified wolf. Dire wolves were not wolves and the cubs that have been produced are not dire wolves themselves.

This is a start-up that is excellent at working the media and the public but is not actually accomplishing what people are imagining they are.

The DNA matches the prehistoric DNA.

Because the Dire Wolf and Gray Wolf already share most of the same DNA it only took "20 edits in 14 genes" to reconstitute the Dire Wolf DNA within a living cell.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

But the DNA is matched with the prehistoric DNA.

Because the Dire Wolf and Gray Wolf already share most of the same DNA it only took "20 edits in 14 genes" to reconstitute the Dire Wolf DNA within a living cell.

Not according to actual biologists.

Colossal Bioscience are scam artists hustling for VC money. If Elizabeth Holmes wasn't in prison, this would be a company she would have founded.

 

[Yaarel]

Not according to actual biologists.

Colossal Bioscience are scam artists hustling for VC money. If Elizabeth Holmes wasn't in prison,? this would be a company she would have founded.

Can you summarize the scientific objections?

I need to get a Bluesky account but havent got around to yet.


The Time Magazine article says (accurately enough): "It takes surprisingly few genetic changes to spell the difference between a living species and an extinct one."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Can you summarize the scientific objections?

Wolves and dire wolves aren't even in the same genus.

Making a few cosmetic changes to a gray wolf to make them look more like they look like on Game of Thrones does not have anything to do with the real dire wolves. (Which were notably not big husky/wolf hybrids.)

Forget BlueSky: Look for any biologist not affiliated with Colossal Bioscience and see what they're saying about this. It's typically laced with profanity.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The Time Magazine article says (accurately enough): "It takes surprisingly few genetic changes to spell the difference between a living species and an extinct one."

Look for a heck of a retraction from Time Magazine in the near future. They have massively screwed up here.