Bringing a super-sized canine back from extinction after 12,500 years might sound like the plot of a thrilling movie, complete with dramatic special effects, but it's now a reality. The world is home to three dire wolves, residing in a secret location in the US, thanks to the efforts of the biotech company Colossal Biosciences.
Romulus and Remus at three months old
Colossal Biosciences, driven by what some might call extreme Game of Thrones fandom, used DNA from the common gray wolf, gene-editing techniques, and domestic dog surrogates to bring Romulus, Remus, and their younger sister, Khaleesi into existence. These dire wolves are everything a mother of dragons could dream of: huge, white, and undeniably awe-inspiring.
“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,” said CEO of Colossal, Ben Lamm.
“Our team took DNA from a 13,000 year old tooth and a 72,000 year old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies. 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.”
Romulus and Remus at one month old
This isn't the first time Colossal Biosciences has captured headlines. Previously, they engineered a Colossal Woolly Mouse, resembling a mammoth, using computational analysis of 59 woolly, Columbian, and steppe mammoth genomes ranging from 3,500 to over 1,200,000 years old. Critics argue that the dire wolves are essentially normal wolves in fancy dress, suggesting that the dire wolf DNA available today isn't sufficient to create a true genetic clone.
However, the motives of Colossal Bioscience extend beyond creating social media buzz or owning extraordinary pets. The company aims to use its findings to help preserve current species for future generations.
“The de-extinction of the dire wolf and an end-to-end system for de-extinction is transformative and heralds an entirely new era of human stewardship of life,” said Dr. Christopher Mason, a scientific advisor and member of the board of observers for Colossal.
“The same technologies that created the dire wolf can directly help save a variety of other endangered animals as well. 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.”
As for these dire wolves, Colossal Biosciences has collaborated with the American Humane Society and the USDA to ensure their 2,000+ acre preserve is suitable for their needs. Like any good superstars, the dire wolves have a dedicated team of staff to care for them.
