Should We Be Playing With DNA & Resurrecting Extinct Animals?

If you've been following the national news lately, you've probably heard the story about scientists reworking some DNA and resurrecting what some might think is just a cute little wolf.

According to scientists, the dire wolf has been extinct for over 12,000 years, but thanks to recent scientific advancements, it's now living again.

Resurrecting the Dire Wolf

A Dallas-based biotech company called Colossal Biosciences recently brought the dire wolf back into the world.

They did this by reworking DNA and altering the genes of a gray wolf, the closest living relative of prehistoric wolves, and also used DNA extracted from two dire wolf fossils.

This long-extinct wolf may be more familiar than you realize.

It's featured on the popular TV show Game of Thrones.

According to the Colossal Biosciences website, their goal is to bring back extinct species through gene editing and rebuilding the DNA of these long-gone animals.

Currently, the company is working on bringing back woolly mammoths, dodo birds, and the Tasmanian tiger.

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Have We Learned Nothing From Jurassic Park?

The idea of bringing back extinct animals is innocent enough.

But have we learned nothing from the popular movie Jurassic Park?

I'll give you the fact that we're not playing around with dinosaurs, but mind you, these animals became extinct long before humans really had that much of an influence in the world.

Is bringing these animals back to the modern age the brightest idea?

I understand that Jurassic Park is theatrical and maybe a little overplayed, but no one can argue that there is a strong possibility of adverse effects when we start playing God.

As the popular character in Jurassic Park, Ian Malcolm, says...

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

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Source: Should We Really Be Playing With DNA & Resurrecting Extinct Animals

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