Dire Wolf Returns: Genetic Breakthrough or Scientific Illusion?
A striking snow-white wolf graces the cover of Time Magazine, alongside a headline proclaiming the return of the dire wolf — a species that once roamed the Americas over 10,000 years ago and gained renewed fame through HBO’s Game of Thrones. The announcement comes from Colossal Biosciences, a company claiming to have “de-extincted” the species through advanced genetic engineering.
Colossal revealed that using ancient DNA and modern synthetic biology, it successfully bred three wolf pups — named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi — designed to resemble dire wolves. However, independent experts have raised concerns about the accuracy of these claims.
Zoologist Philip Seddon of the University of Otago stated that the animals are not true dire wolves, but rather genetically modified gray wolves. Paleogeneticist Dr. Nic Rawlence, also from Otago, emphasized that genuine cloning of dire wolves is currently impossible due to the degraded nature of ancient DNA. He likened ancient DNA to “shards and dust” — too fragmented to recreate a full genome.
Instead, Colossal used CRISPR to edit gray wolf DNA, inserting genes believed to be responsible for key dire wolf traits, such as a larger skull and thick white fur. The embryos were then implanted into domestic dogs, with the pups delivered via planned cesarean sections.
Despite the company’s claims of achieving the first de-extinction, scientists argue this is more accurately a hybrid, not a true resurrection. “Extinction is still forever,” Dr. Rawlence remarked, warning against assuming that extinct species can be brought back completely.
Colossal, which was valued at $10 billion earlier this year, is also working on reviving other extinct species like the woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger. The three wolf pups, currently living on a secure 2,000-acre site in the northern U.S., are being monitored closely by a dedicated team.
The animals do resemble the public image of dire wolves, but experts caution that critical biological differences remain. While Colossal considers this project a success in de-extinction, the scientific community continues to debate what truly qualifies as bringing a species back from extinction.
