A Dallas-based company claims to have resurrected the dire wolf, an extinct species made famous by “Game of Thrones,” using advanced genetic technologies.
A U.S. company has announced a groundbreaking achievement: the resurrection of the dire wolf, a species that last roamed the Earth over 12,500 years ago. This ambitious project has garnered attention not only for its scientific implications but also for its connection to the popular HBO series “Game of Thrones,” where dire wolves are depicted as larger and more intelligent than their modern counterparts.
Colossal Biosciences, based in Dallas, claims to have successfully brought back three dire wolves through a combination of genome-editing and cloning technologies. While the company heralds this as the world’s first successful “de-extincted animal,” some experts argue that what has been created is more accurately described as genetically modified wolves rather than true re-creations of the ancient apex predator.
Historically, dire wolves inhabited the American midcontinent during the Ice Age, with the oldest confirmed fossil dating back approximately 250,000 years, found in Black Hills, South Dakota. In “Game of Thrones,” these wolves are portrayed as fiercely loyal companions to the Stark family, further embedding them into popular culture.
The three litters produced by Colossal include two adolescent males named Romulus and Remus, along with a female puppy named Khaleesi. The process began with the extraction of blood cells from a living gray wolf, which were then modified using CRISPR technology—short for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.” This technique allowed scientists to make genetic edits at 20 different sites, resulting in traits reminiscent of the dire wolf, such as larger body sizes and longer, lighter-colored fur, adaptations believed to have aided their survival in cold climates.
Of the 20 genome edits made, 15 correspond to genes found in actual dire wolves. The ancient DNA used for these modifications was sourced from two fossils: a tooth from Sheridan Pit, Ohio, estimated to be around 13,000 years old, and an inner ear bone from American Falls, Idaho, dating back approximately 72,000 years.
Once the genetic material was prepared, it was transferred into an egg cell from a domestic dog. The embryos were then implanted into surrogate dogs, and after a gestation period of 62 days, the genetically engineered pups were born.
Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences, described this achievement as a significant milestone, emphasizing that it demonstrates the effectiveness of the company’s comprehensive de-extinction technology. “It was once said, ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,’” Lamm stated. “Today, our team gets to unveil some of the magic they are working on and its broader impact on conservation.”
Colossal Biosciences has previously announced similar projects aimed at genetically altering living species to create animals resembling extinct species such as woolly mammoths and dodos. In conjunction with the announcement about the dire wolves, the company also revealed the birth of two litters of cloned red wolves, the most critically endangered wolf species in the world. This development is seen as evidence of the potential for conservation through de-extinction technology.
In late March, Colossal’s team met with officials from the Interior Department to discuss their projects. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised the work on social media, calling it a “thrilling new era of scientific wonder.” However, some scientists have expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of fully restoring extinct species.
Corey Bradshaw, a professor of global ecology at Flinders University in Australia, voiced concerns about the claims made by Colossal. “So yes, they have slightly genetically modified wolves, maybe, and that’s probably the best that you’re going to get,” Bradshaw commented. “And those slight modifications seem to have been derived from retrieved dire wolf material. Does that make it a dire wolf? No. Does it make a slightly modified gray wolf? Yes. And that’s probably about it.”
Colossal Biosciences has stated that the wolves are currently thriving in a 2,000-acre secure ecological preserve in Texas, certified by the American Humane Society and registered with the USDA. Looking ahead, the company plans to restore the species in secure ecological preserves, potentially on indigenous lands, as part of its long-term vision for conservation.
This ambitious project raises important questions about the ethics and feasibility of de-extinction, as well as the implications for biodiversity and conservation efforts moving forward. As the conversation continues, the intersection of technology and nature remains a topic of great interest and debate in the scientific community, according to Fox News.