A company called Colossal Biosciences has genetically engineered three wolf pups to resemble extinct dire wolves. The pups, aged three to six months, have muscular jaws, white hair, and are expected to reach 140 pounds at maturity. The project aims to bring back lost species like the dire wolf, which went extinct over 10,000 years ago. However, independent scientists caution that this effort does not fully revive extinct species and simply alters the appearance of the animals.
Researchers at Colossal Biosciences studied ancient DNA from dire wolf fossils to identify specific traits. Using CRISPR technology, they genetically modified cells from a living gray wolf and transferred them to a domestic dog egg cell to create the genetically engineered pups. Despite physically resembling dire wolves, the pups will not have the opportunity to learn survival skills from wild dire wolf parents.
The company has also successfully cloned four red wolves from wild wolf blood to introduce genetic diversity into the critically endangered red wolf population. This cloning technology, while less invasive than other techniques, still requires sedating wild wolves for blood draws. Colossal Biosciences aims to apply this technology to other species for conservation purposes.
While the Interior Department officials have shown interest in the project, scientists warn of limitations in restoring extinct species. Buffalo biologist Vincent Lynch notes that reintroduced species may not be able to perform the same ecological functions they did before extinction. Despite these challenges, Colossal Biosciences remains committed to their mission of bringing back lost species through genetic engineering.
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