Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, successfully revived the extinct dire wolf by using ancient DNA, cloning, and CRISPR technology. The company birthed three pups that exhibit dire wolf traits. This milestone raises questions about de-extinction and its impact on conservation efforts and the ecological balance.
Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, has successfully brought an extinct species back to life—at least partially. The company recently announced the birth of three dire wolf pups, a species that vanished over 12,500 years ago. The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus), a larger and more formidable relative of the modern gray wolf, was once a dominant predator across North America.
Colossal’s team used a combination of ancient DNA, cloning, and CRISPR gene-editing techniques to recreate the pups, which exhibit traits of their prehistoric ancestors. By extracting DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull, the researchers were able to assemble high-quality genomes and edit 14 specific genes using CRISPR. This resulted in the birth of two male pups in October 2024 and a female in January 2025.
The pups, now housed in a secure 2,000-acre facility, closely resemble their extinct relatives, with wider heads, stronger jaws, and a thicker white fur coat. Despite being 99.9% gray wolf genetically, these animals carry distinct dire wolf characteristics, raising philosophical questions about how we define species.
Colossal Biosciences is not only focused on resurrecting extinct animals like the dire wolf and woolly mammoth but also works on cloning endangered species. The company has already produced cloned red wolves, one of the most critically endangered species in the world, through a gentler cloning method.
While critics argue that de-extinction projects may divert resources from urgent conservation needs, the company emphasizes the potential benefits for biodiversity and the ethical responsibility of animal welfare. Experts also warn that practical and ecological challenges might prevent the reintroduction of such species into the wild, but the technology's implications for conservation remain profound.
