Posted on 04/07/2025 7:00:20 PM PDT by Red Badger
Using a novel iterative genome assembly method, the company produced the most complete dire wolf genomes to date.
caretaker feeding an infant dire wolf.
Colossal Biosciences
For decades, dire wolves have captivated the imaginations of gamers, musicians, and fantasy fans.
From Dungeons & Dragons and World of Warcraft to Game of Thrones, these prehistoric predators have lived on as cultural icons far more than biological realities –until now.
In a stunning scientific breakthrough, Dallas-based Colossal Laboratories & Biosciences has brought the legendary canid back from extinction, making it the world’s first successfully de-extincted animal.
Three litters of dire wolves have been created so far, including two adolescent males—Romulus and Remus—and a female pup named Khaleesi.
Month-old Dire Wolf puppy, Romulus. – Colossal Laboratories & Biosciences “I could not be more proud of the team. This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works,” Colossal CEO Ben Lamm said.
Colossal previously created a “woolly mouse,” with the ultimate aim to bring the woolly mammoth back to life.
First de-extinction breakthrough To de-extinct the dire wolf, Colossal extracted and sequenced ancient DNA from two fossils—a 13,000-year-old tooth from Ohio and a 72,000-year-old inner ear bone from Idaho.
Using a novel iterative genome assembly method, the company produced the most complete dire wolf genomes to date.
The analysis revealed that the dire wolf shares 99.5% of its DNA with the gray wolf—its closest living relative, not the jackal as was previously believed.
The genome also uncovered unique extinct variants linked to traits such as skeletal and muscular strength, sensory adaptation, and a thick white coat suited for Ice Age climates.
Colossal used these insights to make 20 targeted gene edits across 14 loci—15 of them extinct variants—engineering gray wolf cells with multiplex gene editing.
The edited cell lines were then screened through whole genome sequencing and karyotyping, and the most viable lines were cloned via somatic cell nuclear transfer into donor egg cells.
These embryos were then implanted and nurtured through interspecies surrogacy, ultimately leading to the successful birth of a once-extinct species.
“The same technologies that created the dire wolf can directly help save a variety of other endangered animals as well,” Dr. Christopher Mason, a scientific advisor and member of the board of observers for Colossal, said.
“This is an extraordinary technological leap in genetic engineering efforts for both science and for conservation as well as preservation of life, and a wonderful example of the power of biotechnology to protect species, both extant and extinct.”
Saving endangered canid species
VIDEO AT LINK.................
The dire wolves now live on a 2,000+ acre secure ecological preserve certified by the American Humane Society and registered with the USDA.
The entire preserve, which includes specialized engagement zones and habit types, is enclosed by 10-foot-tall, zoo-grade fencing with redundant perimeter security.
Within the preserve, the wolves are continuously monitored through on-site live cameras, security personnel, and drone tracking to ensure their safety and welfare.
The conservation property will provide lifetime care, feeding, and protection for the wolves. Once ready, the long-lost giant canines will be moved to larger ecological preserves.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES In addition to this, the de-extinct startup has birthed two litters of cloned red wolves, the most critically endangered wolf in the world, from three different genetic founder lines. These litters include one adolescent female red wolf (Hope) and three male red wolf puppies (Blaze, Cinder, and Ash).
Dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus) roamed North America until their extinction about 13,000 years ago. Genomic data suggests they first emerged 2.5–3.5 million years ago from the admixture of two extinct canid lineages.
Larger and more muscular than gray wolves, dire wolves primarily hunted horses and bison.
...and his hair was perfect
Time will tell.
Agreed, very loaded threshold. Look at some of the humans who can breed!
Playing God will not go well.
Stacey Abrams doesn’t fit that bill?
Exactly.
Bump.
That vanity kills.
Dire wolves are not as big as depicted in fantasy or fiction. Whew. Now where is that guy with the DnD miniature with a goblem riding a dire wolf.
Adorable cub. I actually like animals better than people and am delighted with this news.
Mastodons, anyone?
That's a good way to put it. My guess is these pups will have an abnormally high number of health problems as they mature. But it's interesting as I wondered if this approach would ever be viable (I recall reading about the initial effort to bring back mammoths in high school almost 40 years ago.)
Me too. Sloths are so adorable.
I want a cute baby wooly mammoth. I’ll ride him to the grocery store and hang my shopping bags off his curly tusks for the trip home. He’ll mow my grass and I’ll sell his poop for fertilizer and deer repellent.
I’m HOLDING OUT FOR A DIREDOODLE.
Coming soon to a city park near you!
Skinwalker Ranch supposedly found a dead one in a creek on their property. They ID’d it by size & shape comparison. They were supposed to genetic test but I never heard any announcement.
What next? Saber Tooth Tigers and Cave Bears?
I guess that would reduce the human traffic in the National Forests.
Dire pugs
They are here in Henderson County TX. Not really a secret. It’s Black Beauty Ranch. It’s closed to visitors/ gawkers.
OK I’m wrong again (suprise!). They have a tour bus for 50 bucks once a month. Or you can schedule a private tour for an easy 250 a head. Just outside of Athens TX.
Not sure about gawking at wolf pups though.
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