De-extinction company announces that the dire wolf is back

[publiusr]

Fussing
https://phys.org/news/2025-05-colossal-bioscience-de-extinct-dire.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-02-companies-resurrect-species-people-comfortable.html
Another return?
https://phys.org/news/2025-04-extinct-species-focus-giant-herbivores.html
Pets
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/lifesty...an-50k-clone-dead-dog-results-cost-grief.htmlhttps://www.thisamericanlife.org/291/reunited-and-it-feels-so-good/act-two-6

 

[Flyaway]

Now they are trying to de-extinct the Moa.

Colossal will be collaborating with Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, a multi-disciplinary hub based at the University of Canterbury on South Island. Work has already begun on sequencing the genomes for all the moa species from bones held in the centre’s collection, and it’s hoped the first ones will be completed by summer 2026.

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/moa-de-extinction

View: https://youtu.be/cg5skhUStRI

 

[DWG]

Now they are trying to de-extinct the Moa.



https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/moa-de-extinction

View: https://youtu.be/cg5skhUStRI

Getting complete genomes* should be easier given it's a relatively recent extinction, with a bunch of known soft tissue samples. Successfully revivifying it is another story.

* There were at least 11 different species.

 

[Flyaway]

Getting complete genomes* should be easier given it's a relatively recent extinction, with a bunch of known soft tissue samples. Successfully revivifying it is another story.

* There were at least 11 different species.

If I do manage to recreate the really tall Moa I certainly wouldn’t want a peck from that considering it was larger than an ostrich.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Would it be any smarter?

 

[DWG]

If I do manage to recreate the really tall Moa I certainly wouldn’t want a peck from that considering it was larger than an ostrich.

I wouldn't want a peck, I'd want a drumstick

 

[Dilandu]

Now they are trying to de-extinct the Moa.

It would be... monumental, considering that as far as I know, moa closest living relatives are rather small tinamu birds.

 

[Justo Miranda]

In my opinion resurrecting failed species is a stupid expense, it would be smarter to create improved species capable of adapting to what we have now or what we will have in the future. In my country, the animals that cross the roads cause 30,000 accidents a year, fifty percent of them are wild boars that leave “nature sanctuaries” to rummage through the garbage of restaurants. Environmentalists try to keep them away from the roads by using wolf pheromones, as always, the soft power that does not solve the problem. How about a kind of wild boar that understands the concept and survives without problems?

 

[NMaude]

moa closest living relatives are rather small tinamu birds.

I was under the impression that the closest living bird species to the Moa was are the Kiwis (Genus Apteryx).

 

[Justo Miranda]

In the absence of predators, species evolve like hippies: pacifism, matriarchy, colors, rejection of violence... until predators arrive by a drop in sea level or by European boats with rats and dogs.

 

[Dilandu]

I was under the impression that the closest living bird species to the Moa was are the Kiwis (Genus Apteryx).

If I understood systematic properly, no, they are a bit further:

 

[Arjen]

species evolve

... into predators. Some of them, anyway. Given time.

 

[Flyaway]

I’m putting this here as of course the Dodo is another target for de-extinction by Colossal Biosciences though this article isn’t mostly about that.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250714-why-history-got-the-dodo-so-absurdly-wrong

 

[martinbayer]

I just want to see a *detailed* global map of any impending repopulation efforts - SoCal coyotes have already killed one of our cats...

 

[publiusr]

We have quite a few here.

More on the headline
https://phys.org/news/2026-02-colossal-techy-hq-dallas-startup.html
Macroscopic life-forms don't worry me too much--you could put a T-Rex out in a ranch and not see if for awhile.

This kind of thing is what scares me:
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-scientists-artificial-cell-capable-environment.html
I want that crap done off-world.

 

[martinbayer]

We have quite a few here.

Macroscopic life-forms don't worry me too much--you could put a T-Rex out in a ranch and not see if for awhile.

This kind of thing is what scares me:
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-scientists-artificial-cell-capable-environment.html
I want that crap done off-world.

Could make for a moderately interesting sci-fi movie script.

 

[Flyaway]

They obviously feel in need of some more publicity.

“The Plan Is Definitely To Make A Living, Breathing Bluebuck”: Colossal Biosciences Announces The South African Bluebuck As 6th Species On Its De-Extinction List

IFLScience spoke to CEO Ben Lamm and Chief Animal Officer Matt James about their first foray into the bovine world for de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences.​

 

[Dilandu]

They obviously feel in need of some more publicity.

“The Plan Is Definitely To Make A Living, Breathing Bluebuck”: Colossal Biosciences Announces The South African Bluebuck As 6th Species On Its De-Extinction List

They are doing the job no one else is daring to approach. From my point of view, they could got all publicity they wanted.

P.S. Albet a pity they didn't market the wolly mice; they would be awesome pets!