World’s First De-Extinction: Scientists Resurrect Dire Wolf After 12,000-Year Extinction
Scientists Achieve First De-Extinction: Dire Wolves Reborn
[Image: Scientists reintroducing dire wolves into a preserve | Caption: Scientists have announced the world’s first de-extinction of an animal species, reintroducing the dire wolf into a protected habitat.]
In a groundbreaking milestone, Colossal Biosciences has successfully revived the extinct dire wolf species, with three pups named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—inspired by Game of Thrones—born in October 2024. These wolves represent the first de-extinction of an animal, blending ancient DNA with modern genetic engineering.
From Fossils to Life
Dire wolves, 25% larger than gray wolves and iconic predators of the Ice Age, vanished 12,000 years ago due to shifting climates and prey disappearance. Colossal extracted DNA from fossilized remains: a 13,000-year-old tooth (Ohio) and a 72,000-year-old skull (Idaho). Using gray wolves as the closest living relative, scientists repaired gaps in the dire wolf genome and edited 15 extinct genetic variants into gray wolf cells.
[Image: Dire wolf pups Romulus and Remus | Caption: Colossal’s dire wolf pups, Romulus (right) and Remus (left), thriving at three months old.]
CEO Ben Lamm stated, “We turned ancient DNA into healthy pups,” achieved via somatic cell nuclear transfer. Embryos were implanted into surrogates, resulting in three healthy pups now residing on a 2,000-acre U.S. ecological preserve.
Scientific Breakthroughs
Dr. Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s Chief Science Officer, highlighted their novel genome reconstruction approach, which provided 500x more coverage than prior efforts. This precision allowed the team to reintroduce dormant genes absent for millennia.
Conservation Implications
Beyond de-extinction, this technology aids conservation. Dr. Christopher Mason, a Colossal advisor, noted its potential to protect endangered species. The dire wolves’ revival demonstrates how genetic engineering could restore ecosystems lost to human activity.
[Image: Dire wolves in a preserve | Caption: The wolves now roam a secure ecological preserve, monitored for adaptation.]
The Woolly Mammoth Connection
Colossal’s broader mission includes resurrecting the woolly mammoth by 2028. Recently, they engineered a “woolly mouse” using mammoth genes, a step toward hybridizing elephants. The company raised $200 million in funding, valuing it at $10.2 billion.
Lamm explained the process as “reverse Jurassic Park”: editing mammoth genes (like woolly coats) into Asian elephant DNA via CRISPR. Success hinges on converting engineered cells into pluripotent stem cells, enabling tissue growth.
Ethics and Future Goals
While de-extinction sparks debate, Colossal emphasizes ecological restoration. Dire wolves’ return tests rewilding possibilities, while mammoths could combat Arctic permafrost thaw. Critics question feasibility, but Lamm remains confident: “We’re on track for mammoth calves by late 2028.”
This achievement heralds a new era in genetic science, blending paleogenetics with cutting-edge biotechnology to reshape conservation’s future.
