The dire wolf (<i>Aenocyon dirus</i>) resurrection that wasn't

Canids originally evolved in North America, presenting a compelling story of shifting climates, paleogeographies, and both successes and failures in adapting to these changes. Species evolve-new ones arrive on the scene and established ones become extinct. The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) is one of the most legendary of the extinct canids and is the most basal member of the crown group of large dogs (Canina) that includes the extant gray wolf (Canis lupus). Recently, Colossal Laboratory & Biosciences announced that they had resurrected the dire wolf, a process that they termed "de-extinction" by editing gray wolf nuclear genomes to include key differences found in select genes identified in dire wolf fossils, or in different genes that would replicate what they believe to be the effect of those genes. This process resulted in three pups possessing a small amount of dire wolf-like DNA born to a surrogate domestic dog. We discuss here the realities of the method, its results, and the ethical aspects of "de-extinction" for not only the dire wolf but many extinct and endangered species.