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By: Gabriel Barajas, Staff Writer
Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech firm aiming to revive the woolly mammoth, has just achieved something straight out of science fiction: the birth of three dire wolf puppies. The company claims this is the world’s first true “de-extinction”—successfully reviving an animal long gone from the Earth.
The dire wolf, made famous by pop culture phenomena like Game of Thrones, The Witcher, and Magic: The Gathering, was a very real apex predator. Larger and more muscular than modern gray wolves, these Ice Age beasts roamed North America until they vanished around 13,000 years ago. Now, thanks to Colossal’s groundbreaking work, they walk among us again.
CEO Ben Lamm announced that the company successfully created the dire wolf pups using ancient DNA extracted from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. The genetic material was used to edit gray wolf DNA at 20 key locations across 14 genes—altering coat, size, musculature, and behavior. The embryos were then implanted into surrogate dogs, who gave birth to the pups: Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi.
“This is not just science fiction. It’s science fact,” said Lamm. “What we’ve done is build a repeatable de-extinction platform that uses genome engineering to reverse extinction events—and potentially prevent new ones.”
Colossal was co-founded in 2021 by Lamm and Harvard geneticist George Church. Their mission: to bring back extinct species and use the same tech to save endangered ones. Backed by investors like Peter Jackson and Tom Brady, Colossal is now valued at over $10 billion.
So far, the company’s ‘test subject’ for mammoth revival was the “Woolly Mouse”—a small creature genetically altered to grow mammoth-like fur. But the dire wolf pups are the first de-extincted mammals to be born, marking a scientific and conservation milestone.
Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer, explained that dire wolves shared 99.5% of their DNA with gray wolves, making genome editing feasible. Using CRISPR-based techniques, researchers identified the most vital genetic changes—then reprogrammed gray wolf cells to reflect the dire wolf’s physiology. Rather than using ancient DNA directly, Colossal engineered the changes synthetically. The result is not a carbon copy, but a functional, living analog.
The revived wolves now live in a 2,000-acre protected ecological preserve at an undisclosed location. The animals are described as “majestic and wild,” displaying classic lupine behaviors. While friendly as pups due to bottle-feeding, they’ve begun exhibiting signs of independence and cautiousness typical of true wolves.
What makes this even more remarkable is the streamlined scientific approach. Instead of relying on traditional tissue cloning, Colossal pioneered a method that utilizes endothelial progenitor cells—harvested from the blood of living wolves—to avoid invasive sampling. These cells were gene-edited and successfully developed into embryos. This not only reduces ethical concerns but also opens the door to broader applications in conservation biology.
But this isn’t just about spectacle. The revival was partially inspired by conversations with the MHA Nation, who emphasized the cultural and ecological importance of wolves. Colossal is now in talks with North Carolina and Native American tribes to explore conservation efforts involving both red wolves and dire wolves.
Red wolves, critically endangered and once thought extinct, are getting help too. Colossal has cloned four red wolves using these same non-invasive techniques, helping boost genetic diversity and potentially saving the species from a severe genetic bottleneck. These so-called “ghost alleles,” or preserved gene variants from hybrid populations, are now being reintroduced into the red wolf gene pool.
While the idea of “bringing back the dead” raises ethical concerns, Colossal says it’s not taking the Frankenstein route. The team insists every move is carefully calculated, prioritizing animal welfare. No Jurassic Park nightmares here—yet.
Still, critics caution about unintended consequences. Experts warn of pleiotropy (genes affecting multiple traits), cloning complications, and the dangers of releasing animals into modern ecosystems unprepared for their presence. Lessons from invasive species like the cane toad serve as a sobering reminder.
Yet Colossal is optimistic. Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi were born through planned cesarean deliveries and have been carefully monitored since. Whether these animals can ever roam freely like their ancestors is uncertain—but their existence offers a powerful symbol of what modern science can achieve when wielded responsibly.
From resurrecting dire wolves to engineering toxin-resistant marsupials like the northern quoll, Colossal is betting big on genetic redemption. The company has already spun off ventures in biotech and AI, monetizing its tools while building its legacy. Applications extend far beyond de-extinction—into gene therapy, agriculture, and ecosystem management.
If Colossal succeeds in saving endangered species and reviving long-lost ones, Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi may be remembered not just as scientific marvels—but as the first howl of a wilder, more biodiverse future.
As Beth Shapiro put it: “We are deciding what the future of these species will be.”
And that future is just beginning. With each genetic milestone, Colossal reminds us that biotechnology is no longer just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about rewriting what’s possible. As the boundary between science and nature continues to blur, we may soon find ourselves living in a world where lost species return, ecosystems heal, and humanity steps into its role not just as a steward—but as a creator of life. The howl of the dire wolf might just be the opening note in a symphony of revival.
