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.
Those things will end you.
You’re older than I thought! But maybe they will de-extinct American lions too!
???
American Lions=mountain lions, puma, gully cat, cougar, etc. We have the big cats in Texas. They aren’t as big as the ones in the Rockies though.
Documented jaguars in Arizona as well.
That’s what my genome expert daughter said. They are hybrid.
My kid said that they are just hybrid with a tiny bit of Dire DNA. I don’t know, but she holds a Masters in genetics.
This. My science kid told me the same.
She is correct.
They are actually Gray Wolves with a few genetic traits replaced with the recovered Dire Wolf DNA, such as the white coat.
It remains to be seen if they will actually become the full size of an adult Dire Wolf which approached 200 pounds and near four feet at the shoulders.
But for now, they are an interesting curiosity experiment that possibly might be of some scientific interest...................
LOL! I looked up American Lion and found a species which has been extinct for over 10,000 years — I thought you were joking around!
Jaguars in the US! Who would have thought it!
They are just outside of Murchison near Athens. Sad part is Black Beauty Ranch is Humane Society (which in my opinion, is corrupt).
Seems to me these would be replicant dire wolves.
Hmm. I’ll have to throw that to the kid..she lurks here.
Seems plausible.
My lunatic fringe screams chimera.
Animals don’t have souls. They see in black and white. Everyday life for them is kill or be killed. That’s the way God made them.
I’ve been in the woods. I have seen it. They live in black and white. It may be ugly but it’s real.
Yes the Ice Age lion makes modern lions look like pussy cats!
I scanned but didnt see... how big do they get if close to the real deal?
Tooth fang and claw that’s all they know
A chimera is basically two fertilized eggs that fused together before mitosis started. Some of a chimera’s cells have the DNA of one of the eggs, the other cells have the DNA of the other egg.
They won’t be bigger than a shepherd. It’s a farce. They will probably have mutations that will stunt growth and development. They will probably be put down.
The real Dire Wolves were 150-200 pounds and three to four feet tall at the shoulder.................
I’m not sure I can agree with man playing God but the fact that they made a living thing from something thousands of years old is still a bit impressive...
Let just not try it with a T-Rex or Giganotosaurus!! lol...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.