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If it looks like a dire wolf, is it a dire wolf? How to define a species is a scientific and philosophical question

  • Written by Elay Shech, Professor of Philosophy, Auburn University
imageHow do you recreate a species whose genome is largely unknown? sunxsand/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Biotech company Colossal Biosciences made headlines in April 2025 after claiming it had “successfully restored … the dire wolf to its rightful place in the ecosystem.” Three wolf pups – Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi –...

Read more: If it looks like a dire wolf, is it a dire wolf? How to define a species is a scientific and...

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