We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What’s Next for Colossal After Bringing Dire Wolves Back From Extinction?

Published: Apr 08, 2025
Views: 179
Share

These days, when people hear the term “dire wolf,” they’re most likely to think of the huge (fictional) wolves associated with House Stark in Game of Thrones. Yet the direwolves of Westeros were inspired by a real species, Aenocyon dirus, that went extinct in North America around 12,000 years ago.

Dire wolves have made headlines around the world recently, and it’s not because of Game of Thrones. The Dallas-based biotechnology firm Colossal Biosciences announced this week that it had brought back the dire wolf, making it the “world’s first successfully de-extincted animal.”

This incredible comeback was achieved by extracting DNA from dire wolf fossils and editing the genetic code of a gray wolf, the dire wolf’s closest living relative. The genetic engineering process resulted in the birth of three pups. The males, Romulus and Remus, were born on October 1, 2024, while the female, Khaleesi, was born on January 30, 2025.

However, not everyone is convinced. Many scientists have pointed out that these pups are not true dire wolves but rather hybrids that look similar to prehistoric dire wolves, thanks to their white fur and large skulls. Perhaps, based on how they came into existence, it would be more accurate to call them genetically modified gray wolves.

The ancient DNA extracted from fossilized dire wolf remains (a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old ear bone) was too degraded to use for cloning purposes. Rather than splicing dire wolf DNA into the gray wolf genome, the Colossal team mapped the dire wolf genome and determined which segments of the gray wolf’s genetic code they needed to edit. They used CRISPR technology to edit 14 gray wolf genes (out of a total of 19,000), with the result of expressing 20 dire wolf traits.

The genetically modified embryos were implanted into surrogate mothers (large mixed-breed dogs) who carried them for about two months until they were delivered by planned C-section.

Making a comeback:

  • Despite the skepticism about whether Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi should even be called “dire wolves,” Colossal shows no signs of rethinking its plans to revive other extinct animals, including the Tasmanian tiger, dodo, and woolly mammoth. Colossal says that it’s planning to create the first woolly mammoth calves by 2028.

  • Many scientists and conservationists have suggested that Colossal’s funding (the company is valued at $10.2 billion, and they’ve raised $435 million) and cutting-edge technology could be better used to help reintroduce genetic diversity among existing species and preserve endangered animals instead of recreating extinct ones.

  • Colossal researchers have admitted that even if their efforts are successful, they wouldn’t be truly resurrecting these long-extinct species but rather reintroducing animals that look and behave in a way that is similar to their ancestors. Yet serious ethical and logistical issues remain, perhaps none greater than the question of what ecological role a revived, hybrid species would serve if the population ever became large enough to be released into the wild.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/whats-next-for-colossal-biosciences-after-bringing-dire-wolves-back-from-extinction.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.