• Lux (it/they)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    4 days ago

    Are the animals in jurassic park dinosaurs? These wolves were modified based on dna from dire wolves, and presumably made to be as close to the scientist’s understanding of dire wolves as possible.

    Species has multiple definitions, and not all of them have specific requirements. These animals are effectively dire wolves, and i don’t think it’s incorrect to call them that.

    Another thing that i think should be noted is that whether these are actually dire wolves is unimportant. They’re the offspring of one species that have had parts of their dna directly programmed to produce traits from another species. This is a major development that could lead to both the extremely cool and extremely unethical creation of new organisms.

    (Ps. I know the jurassic park dinosaurs are inaccurate)

    • who@feddit.orgOP
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      4 days ago

      These wolves were modified based on dna from dire wolves, and presumably made to be as close to the scientist’s understanding of dire wolves as possible.

      I guess you missed this part:

      And Colossal claims it has turned grey wolves into dire wolves by making just 20 gene edits?

      That is the claim. In fact, five of those 20 changes are based on mutations known to produce light coats in grey wolves, Shapiro told New Scientist. Only 15 are based on the dire wolf genome directly and are intended to alter the animals’ size, musculature and ear shape.