In brief
A team of scientists has successfully bred gray wolf pups with the genetic traits characteristic of the long-extinct dire wolf, a species that disappeared around 13,000 years ago. This endeavor, spearheaded by Colossal Biosciences, aims to recreate the characteristics of this fascinating creature famously depicted in popular culture.
Scientists have harnessed the sampled DNA from dire wolf fossils to edit the genetic material of gray wolves. This ambitious project led to the birth of three pups—two males, Romulus and Remus, and a female named Khaleesi—who exhibit the desired significant traits including increased size and distinct pale coats. These wolf pups are currently being raised in a secure facility in the northern United States, amidst funding that values Colossal at $10 billion as of early 2025. Beth Shapiro, the company’s chief scientific officer, heralded this achievement as the first successful application of de-extinction, asserting that they are crafting functional replicas of a species that once roamed the Earth. While these animals will remain in captivity, the methodologies developed may offer viable strategies to aid in the conservation of endangered species, such as the declining red wolf population predominantly found in North Carolina.
