Dire wolves roamed the Earth until about 12,500 years ago. Now, thanks to advances in genetic engineering, scientists are bringing them back to life. Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company known for its ambitious plans to resurrect woolly mammoths, has successfully created three dire wolf pups named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi.
Using a technique called CRISPR, researchers reconstructed the dire wolf’s genome from ancient DNA retrieved from fossilized remains. They took unique gene variants found only in dire wolves, compared them to modern gray wolves, and made precise edits. This process is quite similar to what led to the creation of Dolly the sheep in 1996.
Once the new dire wolf cells were formed, they were placed inside egg cells from gray wolves. These genetically edited embryos were implanted into the wombs of surrogate dogs. After a careful process, the pups were born and are now exploring their environment and howling — sounds not heard for thousands of years.
Colossal CEO Ben Lamm expressed excitement about this achievement, likening their work to magic. The idea of de-extinction poses both scientific and ethical questions. According to expert opinions from fields like conservation biology, while such advancements can help restore biodiversity, there are concerns about the implications of recreating species that have been absent from ecosystems for millennia.
Recent studies show that biodiversity loss has accelerated significantly in the past few decades. According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, wildlife populations have dropped by an average of 68% since 1970. Efforts like those made by Colossal could help address some of these gaps, but opinions remain divided on the responsibility of humans to intervene in natural processes.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first attempt at de-extinction. In 2003, scientists in Spain cloned a Pyrenean ibex, but the newborn only lived for a few minutes. The technology has improved since then, offering more hope for current efforts.
Romulus and Remus are a part of a broader push to revitalize endangered species. In addition to dire wolves, Colossal recently announced births of cloned red wolves, the most critically endangered canid in the world. Their aim is not only to bring back lost species but also to conserve those on the brink of extinction.
As we reflect on these developments, social media is buzzing with excitement over the dire wolf pups, drawing comparisons to popular culture, particularly HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” These adorable yet historically significant creatures are igniting conversations about our role in shaping the future of wildlife.
For more on this groundbreaking project, check out TIME’s report on the science behind it.
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