A Groundbreaking Scientific Feat
Colossal Biosciences, a U.S.-based biotech company, has achieved a historic milestone: the revival of the dire wolf, a species that went extinct approximately 10,000 years ago. This marks a major step in the company’s ambitious goal of using genetic engineering to bring back extinct species, including the woolly mammoth by 2028.
The Process of Resurrection
The revival process began with sequencing the dire wolf genome. Scientists extracted DNA from two existing fossils and combined it with the genome of a gray wolf, which shares 99.5% genetic similarity with dire wolves. Using precise gene-editing techniques, they modified the gray wolf cells to reflect the dire wolf’s genetic makeup.
Chief scientist Beth Shapiro expressed confidence in the project’s success.
“If it looks, acts, and fills the role of a dire wolf, then you’ve done it,” she told ABC News.
Colossal Biosciences
Debate Over Authenticity
Not all experts are convinced. Dr. Julie Meachen, a wolf expert and former research collaborator with Shapiro, remains skeptical. “I don’t think they are actually dire wolves. What we have is something new—a mostly gray wolf that looks like a dire wolf,” she told ABC News.
Despite the debate, three dire wolf pups have been born. Two arrived in late 2024, named Romulus and Remus after the mythological founders of Rome. The third, Khaleesi, was born in early 2025, named after a “Game of Thrones” character. They now reside in a secure 2,000-acre nature preserve.
Ethical and Ecological Concerns
While Colossal sees de-extinction as a way to restore lost species and ecosystems, others worry about potential risks. Bioethicist Dr. Robert Klitzman warns of unforeseen consequences. “You may produce a wolf that’s twice as ferocious. We need to be careful when altering ecosystems,” he told ABC News.
Meachen also questions whether resources should instead focus on conserving endangered species rather than reviving extinct ones. “The mission to save species from the brink of extinction is something I fully support,” she said.
Looking to the Future
Colossal has also cloned critically endangered red wolves and introduced the “woolly mouse,” a thick-furred rodent inspired by the woolly mammoth. The company hopes to continue using genetic breakthroughs to aid biodiversity conservation.
As Colossal pushes toward reviving the woolly mammoth within the next three years, Shapiro argues that avoiding such technology also carries risks. “If we decide these technologies are too risky and don’t try to save species, that choice has consequences too,” she said.
With ongoing advancements in de-extinction, the world may soon see more species brought back to life—but the debate over the ethics and impact of such efforts continues.
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