Scientists revive dire wolf species from ‘Game of Thrones’ in world’s first known ‘de-extinction’

New York Post ^ | 04/07/2025 | Zoe Hussain

[SeekAndFind]

It’s game of clones!

The dire wolf — a species that disappeared 13,000 years ago and was made famous by the beloved HBO series “Game of Thrones” — is making a comeback, thanks to the first-ever so-called “de-extinction.”

Three dire wolf pups — aptly named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi — were successfully born using DNA from ancient dire wolf fossils and genes from their closest living relative, the gray wolf.

The extraordinary results were revealed Monday by Colossal Biosciences, the same Texas-based genetic engineering company that created the adorable colossal woolly mouse.

“Our team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies,” said Colossal CEO Ben Lamm. “It was once said, ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ Today, our team gets to unveil some of the magic they are working on and its broader impact on conservation.”

A genetic engineering company announced the birth of three dire wolf puppies in the world’s first successful “de-extinction.” Colossal Biosciences / Business Wire

To create the painfully cute pups, Colossal cloned high-quality cell lines using somatic cell nuclear transfer into donor egg cells, and transferred them to a surrogate dog mom, who gave birth in January, according to the statement.

The ancient DNA was taken from a tooth fossil found in Ohio that is around 13,000 years old and an inner ear bone from Idaho, about 72,000 years old.

The two six-month-old male wolves, Romulus and Remus, and female pup Khaleesi now reside in 2,000- plus acre “secure expansive ecological preserve” with 10 full-time staff to give them round-the-clock care, Colossal said.

[SeekAndFind]

two dire wolves in snow 4 Dire wolves went extinct 13,000 years ago.

Despite their fictional significance, dire wolves were real-world predators that lurked across North America with mastodons and saber tooth tigers during the Ice Age. They hunted horses, bison and possibly mammoths.

[al baby]

As long as they dont bring back the series im good

[waterhill]

Replicant dna. Not really Dire. Just blonde grays.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Scientists revive dire wolf species from ‘Game of Thrones’ in world's first known ‘de-extinction’

No. No. And no.

They did not revive the dire wolf and so the de-extinction did not happen.

Game of Thrones is a fantasy world so they could not produce a species from it even if they wanted to.

Next they are going to tape a lighter to some poor lizard's head and announce they have produced dragons.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Just don't revive the skanks from The Handmaid's Tale.

[Windcatcher]

Agreed. These wolves are a subspecies of gray wolf. As long as they can breed with gray wolves and produce non-sterile offspring, they aren’t a separate species.

[Oscar in Batangas]

Has the Texas Game and Fish Commission defined the season and established bag limits yet?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They are not dire wolves. They are grey wolves with a couple dozen dire wolf gene sequences from fossil DNA swapped into the grey wolf DNA.

[dfwgator]

Life finds a way.

[Beowulf9]

“Next they are going to tape a lighter to some poor lizard’s head and announce they have produced dragons”.

😆

[Dr. Franklin]

Agreed. These wolves are a subspecies of gray wolf. As long as they can breed with gray wolves and produce non-sterile offspring, they aren’t a separate species.

Two species in the same family can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Dogs, wolves and coyotes can all reproduce with each other and produce fertile hybrid offspring.
Coywolf

[fso301]

Time to rewrite The Endangered Species act.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Dire means exciting horror, dismal, or extremely urgent. It comes from Latin dīrus, meaning “terrifying”. Learn more about its usage, history, and related words.

[Racketeer]

How soon before we get the Sabre-tooth Tiger?

[Damifino]

This is interesting. I know the article is asserting this is in fact a revival the authentic old species. I can't tell from it if it meets the scientific definitions of such.

I think this is foray into science is exciting and cool, but I worry about both the ethics and safety. Will need to think about it more.

If this is in fact possible, I think it implies that folks who have been long dead can have children today. Yikes!

[BubbaBasher]

Actually, that’s not true either. They modified existing genes to mimic the Dire Wolf’s appearance. There is no Dire Wolf DNA in these imposters.

[Vaduz]

They modified existing genes to mimic the Dire Wolf’s appearance.

I’m thinking that’s a lot of material for the Far Side toons.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Well, they’re not really pure dire wolves because they have grey wolf DNA. They are great big white wolves. Like 200 pounders. I can’t wait until they decide to release some in the N GA mountains. 😣

[PIF]

They hunted horses, bison and possibly mammoths. And people, just like wolves today.