An American biotech firm has claimed that their gene editing techniques has led to dire wolf de-extinction. The front cover of the prestigious “Time” magazine features a remarkable photograph of an oversized wolf staring back at the camera. It is a powerful image, a testament to advances in gene manipulation and editing undertaken by Colossal Biosciences. However, the young wolves named Romulus, Remus along with a younger female named Khaleesi are not Aenocyon dirus.
A photograph of the two males (Romulus and Remus) aged three months. These canids born 10/1/2024 Picture credit: Colossal Biosciences.
Picture credit: Colossal Biosciences (media release received 08/04/2025)
Dire Wolf De-extinction
Early this month, Colossal Biosciences announced the rebirth of the once extinct dire wolf (A. dirus). It was claimed this was the world’s first successfully de-extincted animal.
Commenting on the company’s work CEO Ben Lamm stated:
” 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.”
He added:
“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.”
Dr Beth Shapiro (Chief Science Officer) explained that the company’s novel approach to improving an ancient genome in the absence of more complete material set a new standard in gene management.
Team members at Everything Dinosaur first came across Dr Shapiro’s research a decade ago. Dr Shapiro had written an intriguing book outlining how modern science and gene manipulation could result in the de-extinction of the Woolly Mammoth.
Everything Dinosaur’s review of “How to Clone a Mammoth”: How to Clone a Mammoth (De-extinction).
Dr Shapiro commented:
“Together with improved approaches to recover ancient DNA, these computational advances allowed us to resolve the evolutionary history of dire wolves and establish the genomic foundation for de-extinction – specifically for selecting with confidence dire wolf specific genetic variants that establish our targets for gene editing.”
Challenging the De-extinction of Aenocyon dirus
Whilst the birth of these canids represents a considerable achievement. Many scientists have cast doubts on the claim that these three animals represent a revival of a long extinct taxon. The idea that the dire wolf has been resurrected has been challenged. Extinction remains permanent. Instead, the scientists at Colossal Biosciences have used synthetic biology technologies to identify in ancient DNA from dire wolf remains key segments of the genetic code that could be manipulated to produce a modified grey wolf (Canis lupus).
In essence, what has been produced is a grey wolf but with some dire wolf-like traits, such as the larger skull and white fur.
The Rebor dire wolf/fantasy figure with its product packaging. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The picture (above) shows a replica of a dire wolf. It is part of the Rebor range of models and figures. There has been a renewed interest in dire wolves since they featured in the hit fantasy television series “Game of Thrones”.
To view the range of Rebor figures in stock: Rebor Figures and Models.
Implications for Conservation
The research may have important applications in helping to maintain healthy populations of highly endangered animals. For example, Colossal Biosciences have also produced two litters of red wolves from three different genetic founder lines. The red wolf (Canis rufus) is the most critically endangered wolf in the world. These litters include one adolescent female red wolf (Hope) and three male red wolf puppies (Blaze, Cinder, and Ash).
Mike from Everything Dinosaur said:
“They are beautiful animals, and they represent an example of the huge advances being made in biosciences. However, numerous academics and scientists have stated that they are not dire wolves but essentially a modified grey wolf that has some physical traits that represent a different species”.
Colossal Biosciences are continuing to research the de-extinction of other iconic animals. For example, they are examining the possibility of resurrecting the Thylacine. In addition, CEO Ben Lamm has claimed that the first Woolly Mammoth calves produced using this type of technology might be born within three years.
Resurrecting the Woolly Mammoth: The Return of the Woolly Mammoth.
The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur Models.
