In brief
In an impressive feat of genetic engineering, researchers at Colossal Biosciences have successfully bred wolves that carry traits of the long-extinct dire wolf, bringing the concept of de-extinction closer to reality.
For over a decade, the pursuit of bringing back extinct species has fascinated scientists. A key player in this innovative field, the company Colossal Biosciences, has made a groundbreaking announcement regarding the dire wolf—a creature popularized by the hit show “Game of Thrones.” In 2021, researchers managed to extract DNA from dire wolf fossils that vanished roughly 13,000 years ago. Building on this, Colossal's scientists edited 20 genes from gray wolves to replicate essential characteristics of dire wolves, such as their distinctive size and coat. By creating embryos from the modified cells and using surrogate mother dogs, they welcomed the birth of three pups—two males, Romulus and Remus, aged 6 months, and a 2-month-old female named Khaleesi. These wolves are notably larger than their gray counterparts and possess thick, light-colored fur.Beth Shapiro, Colossal's chief scientific officer, hailed this accomplishment as the first successful endeavor in de-extinction, asserting, “We’re creating these functional copies of something that used to be alive.” While the pups will remain under captivity at a private facility, the technology developed through this initiative holds promise for conserving endangered species such as the red wolf, primarily found in North Carolina. This project represents a remarkable leap forward in genetic technology, intertwining the past with environmental conservation efforts.
