B2 – Upper Intermediate
Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company, has successfully de-extincted the dire wolf, a species that vanished 12,500 years ago. By using ancient DNA and advanced cloning techniques, scientists created three dire wolf pups from the genes of a gray wolf, its closest living relative.
These pups resemble the prehistoric predator, which once roamed North America and inspired the iconic dire wolves in the popular television series “Game of Thrones.”
Read the article to learn about the return of the dire wolf.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/07/science/dire-wolf-de-extinction-cloning-colossal/index.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “standoffish” mean? “We’re still seeing a lot of juvenile behaviors. I think they are much more standoffish, much more skittish (than gray wolves). “ Make a sentence with this word. Give a similar word.
- Define “skittish“. “We’re still seeing a lot of juvenile behaviors. I think they are much more standoffish, much more skittish (than gray wolves). .” Use this adjective in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- Explain the phrase, “carbon copy“. “The debate over whether the wolves are a carbon copy of their extinct forerunners misses the point, Shapiro said, adding that the team had been successful in resurrecting the “functional essence” of the dire wolf.” Make a sentence using the phrase. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on using cloning and gene-editing to bring back extinct animals like the dire wolf? Do you think there are potential benefits or risks?
- What ethical considerations should be taken into account when deciding whether to resurrect extinct species?
- Should scientists focus on resurrecting extinct species like the mammoth or dire wolf, or should they prioritize conserving endangered species?
- Regarding Meachen’s statement, “I don’t think they are actually dire wolves. I don’t think what we have is dire wolves. What we had is something new — a mostly gray wolf that looks like a dire wolf.”, do you agree or disagree? Why?
- Could bringing extinct animals back to life contribute to biodiversity, or might it disrupt the balance of ecosystems? Share your opinion.