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Wednesday, April 16, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/science/game-of-thrones-wolf-recreated/

Science

Game of Thrones wolf recreated

Biodiversity

Published 9 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Today, the three puppies live in a secret location, surrounded by fences and monitored by security staff, drones and cameras.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Three pups of the giant wolf, also known as the dire wolf, have now been re-created by scientists in Texas. It is the first successful case in the world of so-called “de-extinction” – the revival of a previously extinct animal.

The Aenocyon species went extinct about 12 500 years ago and lived in North America. It was larger than its living relative the wolf, growing to around 1.5 meters in height and weighing between 50 and 80 kilograms. It also had thicker fur and a wider jaw than our modern-day wolf.

Researchers at the biotech company Colossal Bioscience have extracted DNA from fossils of the extinct giant wolf and examined them to determine genetic characteristics such as color, fur and size. The information was then used to modify cells of the modern-day relative, the gray wolf. In total, genetic modifications have been made in 14 different genes. Healthy developed embryos were then transferred to domestic dogs, which were large mixed-breed dogs, which then served as surrogate mothers.

– Our team took DNA from a 13,000 year old tooth and a 72,000 year old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies, said Ben Lamm, Colossal’s co-founder and CEO, according to CNN.

On October 1, 2024, two male pups were born, and in January of this year, a female was also born.

Game of Thrones author invests

The giant wolf, known as the dire wolf, has made a strong mark on popular culture – not least in books, movies and TV shows. It is best known from the fantasy series Game of Thrones, where the Stark family has a dire wolf as their pet and weapon symbol.

In fact, the author of the book series, George R R Martin, is an investor in the company and the genetically modified wolves. He is also a “cultural advisor” to the company, which has also issued a press release on the cultural influence of the species. The books were also made into a popular TV series by HBO.

The males are named Romulus and Remus, while the female pup is named Khaleesi, which is a title given to the character Daenerys in the book series – who is not a member of the Stark family, but of the Targaryens, who have a dragon on their sigil.

Not a “dire wolf”

Although the scientists behind the genetically modified puppies claim that they are “de-extinction”, other researchers point out that this is not quite the case. The similarities are mainly in appearance, not in the DNA itself.

– This is a grey wolf with an edited genome, not a dire wolf, genome scientist Emily Roycroft told ABC. The genetic edits may have given these wolves a lighter coat to look reminiscent of a dire wolf – but what makes a species is more than just skin deep.

The biotech company emphasizes that the goal is not to recreate species with exact genetic identity, but to create so-called “functional copies”. The technology behind the giant wolf is also hoped to be used to help endangered animals.

– Our goal with de-extinction is always create functional copies of these extinct species. We were focusing on identifying variants that we knew would lead to one of these key traits, says Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief scientific officer.

Secret location

Today, the three pups live in a secret location with a 2,000-hectare area with a three-meter-high fence that is constantly monitored by security personnel, drones and even cameras. The pups are used to humans, but not tame, and are still in a juvenile phase.

– We’re still seeing a lot of juvenile behaviors.  We haven’t seen them really fully express all of their behavior, said Matt James, Colossal’s animal manager. They’re an amazing opportunity for us to learn tons and tons about de-extinction, about cloning, about genetic editing and all the effects after that.

Colossol is also working towards reviving the mammoth, dodo and Tasmanian tiger.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/environment/record-low-wolf-numbers-in-sweden-raises-suspicions-of-illegal-hunting/

Environment

Record-low wolf numbers in Sweden raises suspicions of illegal hunting

Biodiversity

Published 3 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Proving illegal hunting is very difficult - and basically requires catching the culprits red-handed.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

This year’s census reported record low numbers of wolves in Sweden, especially in Värmland and Dalarna. The decrease raises suspicions of widespread illegal hunting.

In Dalarna, the number of wolf territories has decreased by 72% in ten years – from eleven territories in the winter of 2012-2013 to only 3.08 this year. In Värmland, there were 14 territories with pups during the winter of 2021-2022, but this year only four have been found.

Although licensed wolf hunting takes place annually, new territories are usually formed, but why the number has now fallen so sharply is still unclear.

– We can’t find a good explanation for why it has become what it has become. License hunting alone cannot account for this decrease, says David Höök at the county administrative board in Värmland, to Jaktjournalen.

According to Artdatabanken, the wolf’s biggest threat in Sweden – as in Norway – is a lack of acceptance among parts of the population. Illegal hunting is also identified as a serious threat to the survival of the species.

“Difficult to prove anything”

Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Predators’ Association, believes that there is a widespread culture of silence among hunters and also among authorities. He highlights, among other things, an incident when a county administrative board published a film calling for help to combat illegal hunting, where the film clip was withdrawn after strong reactions from hunting associations.

– The county council is very careful about making statements. They no longer say outright that it is about illegal hunting, but note that the wolves disappear, he says to Natursidan.

– I don’t understand why it’s so difficult to call a spade a spade. Why don’t authorities and politicians dare to speak plainly about illegal hunting?

According to Orrebrant, wolves have also disappeared in Dalsland and Småland, but proving illegal hunting is difficult and hunters basically need to be caught red-handed.

– I get calls from members who tip me off about incidents, but it’s difficult to prove anything, he says.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/environment/high-levels-of-heavy-metals-and-environmental-toxins-in-swedish-hedgehogs/

Environment

High levels of heavy metals and environmental toxins in Swedish hedgehogs

Biodiversity

Published 2 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Scientists are surprised that so many different toxic substances were found in the hedgehogs' bodies.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

When Swedish researchers at Lund University collected and examined dead hedgehogs, they made several alarming discoveries.

The bodies of the small animals contained high levels of heavy metals, PCBs and pesticides.

The researchers aimed to investigate which chemicals and pollutants are present in Sweden’s urban environments. Since hedgehogs consume insects and other invertebrates and roam long distances in densely populated areas each night, they were a natural choice for the study.

– An analysis of hedgehogs gives us a kind of environmental fingerprint of what is in an area’s ecosystem. Such knowledge is very difficult to access, but from the hedgehogs we have gained a unique insight into what kind of urban environmental pollution we have directly around us, says Maria Hansson, ecotoxicologist at the Center for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC) at Lund University.

Hansson and her colleagues enlisted the help of the public, asking people to report any dead hedgehogs they found. They also received animals that had been taken to wildlife rehabilitation centers but had not survived.

In total, the researchers measured the presence of 11 different elements, including several heavy metals, and 48 organic environmental pollutants in the dead hedgehogs.

Lead, PCBs and pesticides

The dead animals were found to have high levels of lead and also contained toxic PCB chemicals, several environmental chemicals used as plasticizers in plastics and rubber, as well as pesticides, brominated flame retardants and elevated levels of other heavy metals.

– This shows that urban environments, where most of us live today, contain a large number of environmentally problematic substances that are known health hazards. These pollutants originate from building materials, plastics, pesticides, air pollution, waste, traffic, vehicles, and even contaminated soil, Hansson continues.

She notes that there is a need for more environmental monitoring of soil and organisms in urban areas – and that people should reduce the use of synthetic materials, chemicals and plastics, as this has a negative impact on nature.

– Today, we want nature in our cities, so we must also reduce the risk of organisms being exposed to the chemicals contained in the materials and products we choose to use.

Humans are also affected

Previous studies from Europe have also shown the presence of heavy metals in dead hedgehogs – but the Swedish researchers are still surprised by the new findings.

– What surprised us in our study was that there were so many different environmental contaminants in the animals, such as PCBs and several different phthalates, and that there were very high levels of some heavy metals, especially lead.

The ecotoxicologist emphasizes that studying how different species are affected by environmental pollutants is a complex process and that it is unclear how the hedgehogs are actually affected by the pollutants.

– But since hedgehogs are mammals just like us, it’s concerning to find substances known to be hormone-disrupting, carcinogenic, or harmful to reproduction in humans. Of course, other organisms are also affected by our pollution, says Maria Hansson.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/science/researchers-global-genetic-diversity-is-declining-but-the-trend-can-be-reversed/

Science

Researchers: Global genetic diversity is declining – but the trend can be reversed

Biodiversity

Published 10 February 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Scandinavian Arctic foxes are threatened by inbreeding due to a shrinking gene pool.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A new comprehensive study shows that the genetic diversity of animals and plants is declining worldwide.

The study, which is based on the analysis of over 80 000 scientific articles, indicates that birds and mammals are particularly affected. At the same time, the researchers highlight several conservation measures that can slow down the negative trend.

Genetic diversity plays a key role in enabling animals and plants to adapt to changes in their environment. A wide variety of genes increases the chances that some individuals will develop traits that make them more resistant to drought or high temperatures, for example. These traits can then be passed on to future generations and contribute to the survival of the species.

An international research team, including Uppsala University, Stockholm University and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, has analyzed genetic changes in 628 species over a period of more than 30 years. The study, published in the journal Nature, shows a global decline in genetic variation.

– The study shows that the loss of genetic variation is widespread, which is alarming, but the tools to counteract further loss exist, which is hopeful, says Sara Kurland, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University and one of the researchers behind the study.

Restoring important habitats

The researchers highlight five key actions to preserve genetic diversity. One of them is to add new individuals to populations to counteract genetic depletion. In some cases, it may also be necessary to limit the reproduction of certain individuals to prevent inbreeding.

Protecting and restoring important habitats is another measure that can strengthen the genetic diversity of species. For example, restoring wetlands can help create stable ecosystems where populations can grow and diversify.

Where a species is threatened by disease, competition or predation from other species, controlling these factors can be a solution. The Swedish Arctic fox is an example where recovery is hampered by competition from the red fox.

Restoring wetlands is also considered an important measure. Photo: Abrget47j/CC BY-SA 3.0

Reintroduction of species

The final measure highlighted is the introduction or reintroduction of populations in areas where genetic variation has been lost. This is a controversial approach, but in some cases it can help strengthen genetic diversity and increase the survival of species.

– Overall, the study shows that there are effective conservation methods and data that allow for strategic targeting of actions. But then the genetic component must be considered, says Kurland.

– By incorporating genetic considerations when planning and implementing conservation actions, we can protect biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems to current and future challenges, adds Catherine Grueber, a researcher at the University of Sydney and leader of the study.

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The moose is one of the species being mapped. Photo: Ryan Hagerty

Hoping for more political support

In Sweden, researchers are already using DNA-based indicators to monitor species such as salmon, trout and moose in a collaboration with the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

– The work has identified particularly sensitive stocks of these species, but also those where the situation looks good genetically, says Linda Laikre, professor of population genetics at Stockholm University and one of the co-authors of the study.

The researchers hope that the results will lead to concrete measures and increased political support for conservation work.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/environment/wwf-on-stalled-plastic-pollution-treaty-major-failure/

Environment

WWF on stalled plastic pollution treaty: “Major failure”

Biodiversity

Published 4 December 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The long-term negative impacts of plastic litter on our oceans are not fully understood.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

During the UN meeting in South Korea last week, there were high hopes for a new global agreement to reduce the world’s plastic pollution. However, this never materialized and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) considers the outcome as “deplorable” and “a major failure”.

“The world missed a historic opportunity to stop the growing plastic pollution that threatens animals, ecosystems and human health. WWF considers it a major failure that countries at the UN meeting could not agree on a globally binding plastics agreement”, it writes in a press release.

It points out that a large majority of UN member states wanted to see far-reaching measures “that science has shown can stop plastic pollution” – but that a few countries opposed this and stopped the plans.

– It is regrettable that the negotiations did not result in a binding agreement, which is needed to save our planet from drowning in plastic, said Inger Näslund, senior ocean expert at WWF.

The organization points out that it has been over 1000 days since UN countries agreed to establish a legally binding treaty to stop plastic pollution in oceans and on land, and that 800 million tonnes of plastic have been produced since then alone, with over 30 million tonnes leaking into the oceans, harming animals and poisoning ecosystems.

“No intention of finding a solution”

WWF has previously urged countries to vote instead of settling for a watered-down agreement if a consensus could not be reached, but this was not the case, and major oil producer Saudi Arabia was one of several countries that opposed calls to reduce plastic production.

– For too long, a small minority of states have held the negotiation process hostage. It is abundantly clear that these countries have no intention of finding a meaningful solution to this crisis and yet they continue to prevent the large majority of states who do, said Eirik Lindebjerg of WWF International, who followed the negotiations on the ground in Busan.

– In 2025, we want to see countries come to the negotiating table again, but then ready to take the necessary decisions to end plastic pollution, emphasizes Inger Näslund.

Trillions of pieces of plastic debris

Although it is well documented that large parts of the world’s waterways are currently littered with plastic waste, it is still difficult to get a clear picture of the extent of the problem.

According to National Geographic’s estimate, there are around 5.3 trillion pieces of plastic debris floating in the world’s oceans – and in addition to what is on the surface, around four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea, threatening a large number of species.

The big problem with plastic waste is not just that it takes a long time to break down. Instead, once it disappears “in plain sight”, it leaves behind tiny microplastic particles that remain in nature and in the oceans for hundreds of years – and are taken up by the species that live there, including fish species that are then consumed by humans.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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