Scientists âResurrectâ the Dire Wolf in Historic De-Extinction Breakthrough
Source: dailyplanetdc.com
The Return of an Ancient Predator
In a groundbreaking scientific development, Dallas-based biotech firm Colossal Biosciences has announced the successful âde-extinctionâ of the dire wolf âan apex predator that vanished around 12,500 years ago. The achievement marks what the company claims is the worldâs first successful revival of an extinct animal. Three dire wolf pups, genetically engineered to resemble their ancient ancestors, have been born through a combination of gene editing, cloning, and DNA recovered from fossils.
Using the gray wolfâthe closest living relative of the dire wolf de-extinctionâas a genetic base, Colossalâs scientists modified 20 specific genes across 14 regions, recreating key traits of the extinct species, including white coats, longer and thicker fur, and a broader head and jaw. The effort was quietly underway for years as part of Colossalâs broader mission to resurrect extinct species like the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo.
Ben Lamm, Colossalâs CEO and co-founder, called the milestone a validation of the companyâs end-to-end de-extinction platform. âOur team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies,â he said.
Inside the Science of Resurrection
The dire wolf de-extinction project involved assembling complete genomes from two fossil samples, which were then compared with DNA from modern-day canids, including wolves, foxes, and jackals. CRISPR gene editing was used to insert extinct traits into gray wolf cells, which were cloned and transferred into donor eggs. Domestic dogsâspecifically large, mixed-breed houndsâserved as surrogates for the gestation process.
Two male pups were born on October 1, 2024, followed by a female pup on January 30, 2025. The trio now resides in a 2,000-acre secured sanctuary outfitted with 10-foot-high fencing and monitored by drones, cameras, and security personnel. The site is certified by the American Humane Society and registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Love DalĂŠn, a professor of evolutionary genomics at Stockholm University and an adviser to Colossal, praised the effort as a significant leap in the field. While acknowledging that the animals are genetically about 99.9% gray wolf, DalĂŠn noted the observable traits strongly align with fossil reconstructions. âTo me, itâs a dire wolf in that sense,â he said.
Ethical Questions and Future Implications
While the scientific community has marveled at the technological achievement, the project has also sparked ethical debates. Critics question the value of spending hundreds of millions on de-extinction efforts instead of preserving current endangered species. Since its founding in 2021, Colossal has raised over $435 million, including funds for ongoing mammoth and dodo revival projects.
Despite the controversy, Colossal says its work is already benefiting conservation efforts. The company recently announced the birth of two litters of cloned red wolvesâthe most critically endangered wolf speciesâusing techniques refined during the dire wolf de-extinction project.
Environmental ethicist Christopher Preston acknowledged concerns about ecological integration but commended the company for its careful approach. Still, he remains skeptical about the role these engineered animals will play in the wild. âIn places like Montana, we struggle to maintain gray wolf populations amid political resistance,â he said. âItâs difficult to imagine dire wolves being reintroduced to natural ecosystems.â
As the scientific and ethical conversations evolve, Colossalâs achievement has opened the door to an entirely new frontierâwhere science fiction edges closer to scientific reality.
