BelSU Scientist Weighs In on the Revival of Extinct Animals

In a groundbreaking announcement, an American biotech company has successfully revived the Dire Wolf, a canine species that went extinct around 12,000 years ago. This remarkable achievement not only stirs excitement but also paves the way for modern geneticists to explore new frontiers in de-extinction.

Aleksey Deykin, director of the United Centre for Genetic Technologies at Belgorod National Research University (BelSU), shared his insights on this fascinating development. After extensive research and significant financial backing, two puppie – affectionately named Romulus and Remus – have been born. While it may be premature to declare a full species revival, the buzz surrounding the potential return of mammoths and even dinosaurs is certainly palpable.

During an episode of the SMOTRIM program “Question of Science,” hosted by Pavel Tropov, Deykin addressed the myriad questions that arise from such scientific breakthroughs. He clarified that to bring back any extinct species, scientists must decode its genome and pinpoint the unique characteristics that define the organism.

Typically, a species is deemed fully separate and independent once it develops an interspecific barrier, meaning it can no longer produce viable offspring with representatives of other species. If different species can still mate and yield healthy offspring, it likely indicates an intraspecific union or a subspecies within a single animal group. In the case of the Dire Wolf, it appears that what has been produced thus far is more akin to a subspecies of the modern wolf, complete with some of the distinctive traits of its long-lost ancestors.

To successfully resurrect an extinct species, scientists must implant an egg with a genetically edited nucleus into a living modern animal. But first, they need to ensure the genome is accurately decoded.

“There have been several mass extinction events throughout Earth’s history. Some species vanished eons ago, while others have modern relatives still roaming our planet. These are the candidates we could potentially bring back – think wolves, elephants, and various birds. Dinosaurs, however, pose a greater challenge. We lack direct living descendants into which we could implant an egg, and over millions of years, their remains have become heavily contaminated with foreign DNA,” Deykin explained.

Despite these challenges, scientists remain hopeful. They envision creating useful animals that could elevate agriculture to new heights. With the climate changing at an alarming rate, innovative solutions are essential for preserving livestock and ensuring sustainable food production.

“When people hear about geneticists creating animals on demand, they often picture unicorns, pegasi, or rainbow ponies,” Deykin quipped. “However, the reality is far more pragmatic: we’re focused on producing medicines, recombinant proteins, antibodies, and disease resistance. With two billion cows currently on this planet, many of them are ill-equipped to handle the rising temperatures and decreasing humidity that are just around the corner. If we want to maintain routine farming practices – like self-grazing in fields – we need to adapt these animals genetically to their changing environment sooner rather than later.”