Scientists play God by reviving extinct wolf species
In this DML Report…
Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech firm, announced that it has successfully engineered three dire wolf pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—using ancient DNA and CRISPR gene-editing technology. The process involved extracting DNA from a 13,000-year-old dire wolf tooth and a 72,000-year-old ear bone, then editing 20 genes in gray wolf embryos to replicate dire wolf traits such as larger size, white coats, and enhanced skeletal features. These embryos were implanted into surrogate dog mothers, resulting in the birth of Romulus and Remus on October 1, 2024, and Khaleesi in January 2025, marking the first claimed de-extinction of a species extinct for over 10,000 years.
The dire wolves, currently housed in a 2,000-acre preserve in the northern U.S., exhibit physical differences from gray wolves, including bigger jaws, teeth, and muscular builds, with Remus weighing 80 pounds at five months and expected to reach 150 pounds. Colossal used ancient DNA sequencing and multiplex editing to achieve what it calls a "functional copy" of the dire wolf, though some scientists argue these are genetically modified gray wolves, not true dire wolves, as only 15 of the edits directly stem from dire wolf DNA. The company also birthed two litters of cloned red wolves—Hope, Blaze, Cinder, and Ash—using a new blood cloning method to bolster the critically endangered species, collaborating with groups like the MHA Nation and the American Wolf Foundation.
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Colossal’s broader mission involves applying these genetic tools to conservation, with plans to potentially reintroduce dire wolves to tribal lands in North Dakota and strengthen endangered red wolf populations in North Carolina. The firm, valued at $10 billion, is also working on de-extincting the woolly mammoth by 2028 and the Tasmanian tiger, having raised $435 million since 2021. While the dire wolf pups’ behaviors—like early howling and stalking—suggest wild traits, critics question the ecological impact and ethics of releasing engineered species, though Colossal insists its work enhances biodiversity and counters genetic bottlenecks in endangered populations.