Calling out colossal baloney on supposed dire wolf de-extinction

by rss feed | Apr 9, 2025 | De-extinction, dire wolf de-extinction, Fact-check, News Feeds, woolly mice

Just the phrase “dire wolf de-extinction” evokes many things including Game of Thrones. It seems very cool. However, the new claim by biotech Colossal Biosciences that they brought back these unique canines (they were real but are now extinct) seems to me...

What were woolly dogs and should they be de-extincted over mammoths?

by rss feed | Feb 12, 2025 | Beth Shapiro, De-extinction, mammoth de-extinction, News Feeds, woolly dogs

I first learned about woolly dogs when researching woolly mammoth de-extinction. It turns out that there are or were many woolly creatures besides sheep. If you have to de-extinct something, I say let’s try to bring back the woolly dog and forget the mammoths....

Weekly reads: Beth Shapiro & de-extinction, mice with two dads, stem cell patches

by rss feed | Feb 2, 2025 | Beth Shapiro, De-extinction, de-extinction of dodos, News Feeds, weekly reads

Biologist and ancient DNA expert Beth Shapiro is becoming more well known for doing de-extinction research. Yet Shapiro used to be a de-extinction skeptic. Ten years ago she wrote “How to Clone a Mammoth.” In the book she mentioned serious challenges related to...

Weekly reads: elephant stem cells, RIP Connie Eaves, AI cell biology

by rss feed | Mar 17, 2024 | De-extinction, elephant stem cells, mammoth de-extinction, News Feeds, weekly reads

Last week one of the most popular stories was about a preprint from a mammoth de-extinction research group led by George Church having made elephant stem cells. I finally got a chance to look carefully at their preprint. Elephant stem cells preprint and mammoth...

Holiday reads: woolly dog vs. mammoth, man eggs, designer B-cells, bluebird bio blues

by rss feed | Dec 24, 2023 | Bluebird Bio, De-extinction, News Feeds, weekly reads, woolly dog

What is a woolly dog? Is it somehow related to the Woolly Mammoth? Before we get into that and the rest of my recommended reads, note that I’m finalizing my list of contenders for this year’s The Screamers Science Hype Awards. Last year The BBC won The...

Weekly reads: De-extinction pros & cons with Dodo 2.0, CTCF, retraction

by rss feed | Feb 5, 2023 | De-extinction, News Feeds, weekly reads

I don’t think de-extinction of animals just for the heck of it like woolly mammoths is a good idea, but what about de-extincting animals like the Dodo? Where humans caused them to disappear? If that’s even possible, is it a good idea? Dodo de-extinction A...