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One fact is intriguing scientists: a US startup claims to have brought the extinct prehistoric wolf back to life after it disappeared from Earth more than 12 years ago. Also known as the dire wolf, the first achievements show a promising future for fauna around the world. Understand the story right now. j4n6c
Real-life Jurassic Park: The De-Extinction of Ancient Animals t602g
It seems like we are living in a great movie set in the 3000s. The idea of Colossal Biosciences is to bring extinct animals back to life through the process of genetic editing, which goes by the name of Crispr and works as a kind of genetic scissors. In practice, scientists were able to edit the DNA genome using the base found in fossils of wolves that lived in a period between 11,5 thousand and 72 thousand years, also called Dire Wolf.
In interview with Time Magazine, the scientists said that through this gene editing, they collected endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the blood of a common gray wolf. Then, based on what was found in the fossils, they edited 20 key genes from these cells to match the DNA of dire wolves, without inserting ancient genetic material.
These edited DNAs were then implanted into denucleated eggs, generating embryos that were carried by healthy, large-sized mixed-breed female dogs. The first two puppies were born on October 01, 2024 and are currently 6 months old, with names of Romulus and Remus, named after the Greek story of two brothers raised by a she-wolf. See photos of them below:
The third recreated dire wolf is named Khaleesi, in reference to Game of Thrones. She was born on January 31, 2025. See her photo below:
With X, the company made a post highlighting the importance of the process and also showing a video. See the post and the translation:
SOUND ON. You're hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10.000 years. Meet Romulus and Remus, the world's first extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024.
The dire wolf has been extinct for over 10.000 years. These two wolves were brought back from extinction using gene edits derived from a complete dire wolf genome, painstakingly reconstructed by Colossal from ancient DNA found in fossils dating back 11.500 and 72.000 years.
This moment marks not only a milestone for us as a company, but also a leap forward for science, conservation, and humanity. From the beginning, our goal has been clear: “To revolutionize history and be the first company to successfully use CRISPR technology to de-extinct previously lost species.” In achieving this, we continue to drive our broader mission: accepting humanity’s duty to restore Earth to a healthier state.
But this isn’t just our moment—it’s a moment for science, for our planet, and for humanity. Everything we love and are ionate about. Now, close your eyes and listen to that howl one more time. Think about what it means for all of us.
Proof of the process 31p55
Although it was successful, the big question in the scientific community is how the dire wolf “de-extinction” process was carried out. This is because, to date, a detailed study on how the “de-extinction” process was carried out has not been published in journals such as Nature, detailing and bringing tests carried out during the study. In this way, scientists in the field of genetics cannot validate whether the “de-extinction” really happened.
Currently, the cubs live in an isolated area measuring 809 thousand m², with no disclosed location, but adapted to their natural habitat so they can grow up in complete health.
Jeremy Austin, director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, commented that, in practice, the company Colossal has simply created a genetically modified gray wolf to resemble his idea of the dire wolf. The website science alert also recalls the famous phrase by astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan: “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence”. Despite this, the process was told in an 11-minute video posted on the startup’s YouTube channel:
How did the dire wolf live? 4a551p
The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) was a large predator of the Ice Age. It inhabited mainly North America, adapting to diverse environments such as plains, forests and coastal regions.
Fossils found in places such as Rancho La Brea (California) indicate that it was a robust animal, with powerful jaws and social behavior similar to that of modern wolves, hunting large megafauna herbivores in groups.
Its physical structure was heavier and more muscular than that of modern gray wolves, which made it efficient for hunting in open environments and for taking on large prey. Its teeth and jaws were adapted not only for killing, but also for breaking bones, which expanded its dietary options. Fossil evidence suggests that the dire wolf was a cooperative hunter, which may have been an important advantage during the Pleistocene.
The dire wolf went extinct at the beginning of the Holocene, probably due to rapid climate change, the extinction of megafauna that served as its food, and the increase in human presence. These factors created a scenario of prey scarcity and increased competition for resources. The emergence of more adaptable species, such as gray wolves and the first domesticated dogs, may also have contributed to its disappearance.
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In March of this year, the same company announced the creation of genetically modified woolly mice with fur similar to that of woolly mammoths, a species that went extinct four thousand years ago. The idea here is not to show that mammoths will be brought back to life overnight, but rather to show that, through genetic modifications, it is possible to take advantage of the characteristics of an animal that went extinct years ago.
The lab-grown mouse has fur similar to that of woolly mammoths that were able to contain the release of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. In the research, scientists analyzed genomes extracted from the remains of dozens of mammoths, as well as living and extinct relatives, to identify genetic alterations that modified proteins throughout the evolution of these animals. See:
The first experiments resulted in the creation of 250 embryos, of which less than half reached more advanced stages of development, forming viable structures with about 200 to 300 cells. These embryos were then implanted into the uterus of about a dozen surrogate females.
The process resulted in the birth of 38 baby mice. All successfully developed typical mammoth characteristics, such as golden, woolly fur and accelerated lipid metabolism — traits associated with adaptation to extreme cold.
With the justification of “resurrecting” extinct animals to restore the environmental balance of planet Earth, the company has been raising funds to finance its research. Colossal Biosciences has a market value of US$ 10 billion, approximately R$ 59 billion in direct conversion.
For Colossal, de-extinction isn’t just about making an organism that is or resembles an extinct species. It’s about merging the biodiversity of the past with the innovations of the present in an effort to create a more sustainable future.
Colossal Biosciences about the de-extinction process.
What do you think about the process of bringing extinct animals back to life? Tell us in the comments Comment!
See also other features
With some info: CNN l Colossal Biosciences (1 e 2)l Time Magazine (1 e 2)
reviewed by Tiago Rodrigues in 08 / 04 / 2025
