Colossal Biosciences Claims First De-Extinction with “Return” of the Dire Wolf

In a scientific breakthrough that feels ripped from the pages of Jurassic Park or Game of Thrones, Colossal Biosciences, the world’s only de-extinction company, has announced the birth of three wolf pups that it claims mark the world’s first successful de-extinction event. The company says these pups, modeled after the long-extinct dire wolf, bring a species back to life 12,500 years after it disappeared.

Meet the New “Dire Wolves”

Born through advanced genetic engineering and cloning techniques, the trio includes two male pups named Remus and Romulus—after the mythological founders of Rome—and a female named Khaleesi, born a couple of months later. The pups were reportedly created using DNA extracted from ancient dire wolf fossils, including a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull.

Behind the Science: Genome Editing at Scale

Colossal’s team began by comparing the recovered dire wolf DNA with that of modern canids. Using CRISPR-like techniques, they made 20 targeted genome edits, 15 of which revived gene variants not seen since the Ice Age. This set a new record for genome editing in animal cloning—beating their own previous record of eight.

They then transferred the edited nucleus into a donor egg cell, implanted it into domestic dog surrogates, and successfully brought the embryos to term. According to Time Magazine, the pups are healthy and already showing the physical traits of the large, extinct predator.

Controlled Habitat and Ethical Oversight

The new wolves now live in a 2,000-acre secure preserve surrounded by 10-foot fencing, monitored by drones, live video feeds, and a full-time care team. The site has been certified by the American Humane Society and registered with the USDA, aiming to balance scientific ambition with ethical stewardship.

More Than Just a Dire Wolf

Colossal isn’t stopping at Ice Age canines. Using a non-invasive cloning method that relies on blood samples instead of tissue biopsies, the company also cloned four critically endangered red wolves—one of which, a female named Hope, is thriving. This method may offer a gentler path to species conservation.

Colossal had already turned heads in March 2024 by creating the so-called “woolly mouse,” mimicking ancient mammoth genes in mice to test multiplexed genome engineering.

Skepticism from the Scientific Community

Despite the fanfare, not everyone agrees that Colossal has truly resurrected the dire wolf.

“They’ve created a gray wolf with dire wolf traits—not an actual dire wolf,” said Dr. Nic Rawlence, Director of the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory. “This is more hybrid or GMO than a genuine de-extinction.”

Other scientists echoed his concerns, pointing out that dire wolves were not just large gray wolves—they were a separate genus entirely. According to these critics, while Colossal’s work represents a major leap in genetics, it does not fully meet the bar for true de-extinction.

What’s Next: Mammoths, Dodos, and More

Undeterred by the controversy, Colossal is forging ahead with plans to “de-extinct” other iconic species, including the woolly mammoth, the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), and the dodo. While a tiny triceratops isn’t on the list—yet—one can’t help but wonder what’s possible as synthetic biology continues to advance.

Whether or not Colossal’s dire wolf counts as a true resurrection, it’s clear that the future of conservation and genetic engineering just took a dramatic turn.

Read the Original Article: New Atlas

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