Colossal Biosciences Successfully Revives Extinct Dire Wolf Species
Researchers genetically modify wolves to resemble dire wolves, an extinct species from over 10,000 years ago.
Researchers at Colossal Biosciences announced the successful genetic modification of three wolves to closely resemble the dire wolf, an extinct species that last roamed Earth over 10,000 years ago.
The announcement was made on April 7, 2025, revealing that the puppies, which were born on October 1, 2024, are currently residing at an undisclosed location in the United States.
The wolves, aged between three to six months, are characterized by their long white fur and strong jaws, with the expectation that they will grow to approximately 60 kilograms upon reaching maturity, mirroring the size of ancient dire wolves.
Colossal Biosciences celebrated this development on their social media platforms, sharing videos of the newly born wolves and referencing their names, Romulus and Remus, which echo themes of mythology and historical narrative.
A female wolf was named Khaleesi, inspired by the character from the popular television series 'Game of Thrones,' which helped propagate the cultural image of the dire wolf in contemporary media.
The efforts to revive the dire wolf are part of a broader mission by Colossal Biosciences to de-extinct various species.
The company previously announced intentions to resurrect the dodo bird, which has been extinct since 1681, although those efforts are reportedly facing significant scientific challenges.
Innovation in genetic technology is central to Colossal's work.
The process utilized for reviving the dire wolf involved cloning and gene editing, based on DNA extracted from two ancient samples: a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull.
The CEO of Colossal Biosciences, Ben Lamm, described this achievement as a 'massive milestone,' emphasizing the scientific significance of successfully creating healthy dire wolf puppies from ancient genetic material.
Lamm expressed pride in the team's capabilities to demonstrate a feasible technology for de-extinction.
As advancements in genetic engineering provoke ongoing discussions on ethics and the implications of reviving extinct species, reactions from the public and experts alike are marked by a mix of fascination and skepticism.
An account humorously echoing themes common in speculative fiction referenced the revival with a comment on social media, cautioning about the potential unpredictability of such endeavors.
The announcement was made on April 7, 2025, revealing that the puppies, which were born on October 1, 2024, are currently residing at an undisclosed location in the United States.
The wolves, aged between three to six months, are characterized by their long white fur and strong jaws, with the expectation that they will grow to approximately 60 kilograms upon reaching maturity, mirroring the size of ancient dire wolves.
Colossal Biosciences celebrated this development on their social media platforms, sharing videos of the newly born wolves and referencing their names, Romulus and Remus, which echo themes of mythology and historical narrative.
A female wolf was named Khaleesi, inspired by the character from the popular television series 'Game of Thrones,' which helped propagate the cultural image of the dire wolf in contemporary media.
The efforts to revive the dire wolf are part of a broader mission by Colossal Biosciences to de-extinct various species.
The company previously announced intentions to resurrect the dodo bird, which has been extinct since 1681, although those efforts are reportedly facing significant scientific challenges.
Innovation in genetic technology is central to Colossal's work.
The process utilized for reviving the dire wolf involved cloning and gene editing, based on DNA extracted from two ancient samples: a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull.
The CEO of Colossal Biosciences, Ben Lamm, described this achievement as a 'massive milestone,' emphasizing the scientific significance of successfully creating healthy dire wolf puppies from ancient genetic material.
Lamm expressed pride in the team's capabilities to demonstrate a feasible technology for de-extinction.
As advancements in genetic engineering provoke ongoing discussions on ethics and the implications of reviving extinct species, reactions from the public and experts alike are marked by a mix of fascination and skepticism.
An account humorously echoing themes common in speculative fiction referenced the revival with a comment on social media, cautioning about the potential unpredictability of such endeavors.