Researchers worked hard to bring back the long-extinct dire wolf using advanced gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR and ancient DNA analysis, scientists pieced together the genetic blueprint, hoping to resurrect a lineage for the species.
Dire wolves disappeared thousands of years ago despite being feared as the apex predators of the Ice Age.
Colossal Biosciences was responsible for the birth of three dire wolf pups, the result of new techniques and ancient DNA research.
“This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works,” said Colossal’s CEO Ben Lamm.
Scientists have reconstructed the dire wolf genome using DNA extracted from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull.
They successfully edited 20 specific genes in gray wolf cells using the CRISPR technology to replicate defining traits of the extinct dire wolf, such as thicker fur and more robust jaws.
Similar ancient characteristics
While the resulting animals share 99.5% of their DNA with gray wolves, their appearance and behavior more closely resemble that of dire wolves.
Colossal clarified that their aim was not to create a perfect genetic replica, but to restore the “functional essence” of the dire wolf.
The three pups were named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, and were born between late 2024 and early 2025 through domestic dog surrogates.
Despite being born in captivity, the pups have shown natural wild instincts and tend to avoid human contact.
The next pack?
Colossal plans to expand the pack to observe how the animals grow and adapt as a group over time and prevent species extinction.
“We aren’t trying to bring something back that’s 100% genetically identical to another species. Our goal with de-extinction is [to] create functional copies of these extinct species. We were focusing on identifying variants that we knew would lead to one of these key traits,” said Colossal’s chief science officer Beth Shapiro.
This project is under Colossal’s broader mission, which includes efforts to revive species such as the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the Tasmanian tiger.
Beyond de-extinction, the same technologies used for the de-extinction of dire wolves are being applied to bolster conservation efforts, particularly for endangered species like the red wolf.
“The red wolf is a great example of a species that’s hindered by a lack of genetic diversity. What we could do is begin to use this technology to reintroduce founders into a population in a way that would enhance genetic diversity, the robustness, and the adaptability of a recovery program,” Colossal’s chief animal officer Matt James noted.
The company assures the public that all its procedures are conducted under strict ethical considerations and continuous scientific monitoring.
