In brief
Researchers at Colossal Biosciences have successfully bred grey wolves with edited genes to include characteristics of dire wolves, leading to the birth of three new pups. This de-extinction effort could also aid in conserving endangered species.
For years, scientists have been intrigued by the concept of resurrecting extinct species, a field commonly referred to as de-extinction. Recently, a pioneering team at Colossal Biosciences has achieved something remarkable with the dire wolf, an imposing species that gained popularity thanks to the hit series “Game of Thrones.” In 2021, a group of researchers extracted DNA from the remains of dire wolves, which disappeared roughly 13,000 years ago. Building on this, Colossal's scientists successfully modified 20 genes in the DNA of gray wolves, incorporating distinct characteristics of their ancient relatives. The next phase involved using the edited cells to create embryos, which were then implanted into surrogate dogs. The outcome? Three thriving wolf pups—two males and a female—showing features reminiscent of dire wolves. Named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, these young canines are notably larger and possess the striking pale coats that set them apart from typical gray wolves. Colossal Biosciences operates on a sprawling 2,000-acre sanctuary in an undisclosed location in the northern United States, where these wolves are being carefully monitored.Beth Shapiro, Colossal's chief scientific officer, heralded this achievement as a significant milestone in de-extinction efforts, stating, “We’re creating these functional copies of something that used to be alive.” While the pups will remain in captivity for now, the innovation stemming from this project holds promise for the conservation of other endangered species, particularly the critically endangered red wolf, whose population is primarily confined to North Carolina.
