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.
Beware it is Humane Society. Not on my favorite list.
Will Jurassic Park become a real thing in 75 years? Ugh.
Top Notch! Was he the hairy handed gent who ran amok in Kent?
Yeah, they’re cute — as puppies.
But they will grow up to be bigger, stronger wolves. Do we really need more wolves around? Eating our livestock and occasional human?
Not really!!!!!
They should de-extimct something safer, like passenger pigeons or dodods.
“Maybe we can release them in San Francisco. “
Even better…..clone and release Smilodon there.
More Dire Wolf stuff...
Just what the world needs! A stone age predator brought back from extinction, one that can kill and eat almost any animal on earth!!
No.
Six hundred pounds of sin grinning at my window
This won’t end well.
Saw that yesterday. Look out, pit bulls…..
Romulus and Remus, the first two dire wolf pups created by Colossal Biosciences (Credit: Colossal Biosciences)
They are NOT dire wolves. They are wolves that have some genetic changes to imitate a dire wolf.
Dodos and Tasmanian tigers would be cool.
Ever heard of a Kodiak/Grizzly? (On my hunt list. Muskox and Bighorn as well. Then I will be satisfied.)
All with a bow
Yes lets turn a bunch of them loose in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The Canadian timber wolves just weren’t bad enough. 😏
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, that they didn't stop to think if they should."
When I was young, I thought Tasmanian tigers were whirling dervishes.
Yeah. Thought they were neat. Got up c
lose and personal with an American lion. I peed my pants.
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