Bringing a super-sized canine back from extinction after 12,500 years sounds like the plot of a blockbuster movie filled with special effects like gnawed flesh and buckets of fake intestines. Yet, some have turned this concept into reality, and now the world has three dire wolves living in a secret location in the US.
Romulus and Remus at three months old
The masterminds behind this project are the biotech company Colossal Biosciences. They've harnessed the DNA of the common gray wolf, utilized gene-editing techniques, and employed domestic dog surrogates to bring Romulus, Remus, and their younger sister Khaleesi into existence. These dire wolves embody the dream of any Game of Thrones enthusiast—huge, white, and undeniably awe-inspiring.
“I could not be more proud of the team. This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works,” said CEO of Colossal, Ben Lamm.
“Our team took DNA from a 13,000 year old tooth and a 72,000 year old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies. It was once said, ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ Today, our team gets to unveil some of the magic they are working on and its broader impact on conservation.”
Romulus and Remus at one month old
This isn't the first time Colossal Biosciences has grabbed headlines. Previously, they engineered a Colossal Woolly Mouse, resembling a mammoth with its shaggy coat, using computational analysis of 59 woolly, Columbian, and steppe mammoth genomes ranging from 3,500 to over 1,200,000 years old. Despite their achievements, the company faces criticism. Some argue that these dire wolves are merely gray wolves in elaborate costumes, as the remaining dire wolf DNA may not be sufficient for true genetic cloning.
Colossal Bioscience's ambitions extend beyond creating a social media sensation or owning remarkable pets. Their goal is to leverage these findings to preserve current species for future generations.
“The de-extinction of the dire wolf and an end-to-end system for de-extinction is transformative and heralds an entirely new era of human stewardship of life,” said Dr. Christopher Mason, a scientific advisor and member of the board of observers for Colossal.
“The same technologies that created the dire wolf can directly help save a variety of other endangered animals as well. This is an extraordinary technological leap in genetic engineering efforts for both science and for conservation as well as preservation of life, and a wonderful example of the power of biotechnology to protect species, both extant and extinct.”
As for these dire wolves, Colossal Biosciences has collaborated with the American Humane Society and the USDA to ensure their 2,000+ acre preserve meets the highest standards. Like any celebrated figures, these dire wolves are cared for by a dedicated team of staff.
