In a groundbreaking endeavor, Colossal Biosciences reports the successful genetic engineering of wolf pups bearing a striking resemblance to the extinct dire wolf. These pups, currently housed in a secure, undisclosed location within the United States, represent a significant step towards the ambitious goal of resurrecting lost species.
The engineered wolf pups, aged between three and six months, exhibit distinct characteristics reminiscent of their ancient counterparts, including long white hair, pronounced muscular jaws, and an impressive weight of approximately 80 pounds, projected to reach 140 pounds upon maturity.
Dire wolves, which disappeared over 10,000 years ago, were considerably larger than modern gray wolves, their closest living relatives.
Despite this achievement, independent scientists caution against premature expectations of a dire wolf resurgence in North American grasslands.
Vincent Lynch, a biologist at the University at Buffalo, emphasized the limitations of current technology, stating, "All you can do now is make something look superficially like something else – not fully revive extinct species."
Colossal's research team meticulously analyzed ancient DNA extracted from fossils to identify specific traits of the dire wolf. Their study focused on a 13,000-year-old dire wolf tooth discovered in Ohio and a 72,000-year-old skull fragment unearthed in Idaho, both sourced from natural history museum collections.
The genetic modification process involved extracting blood cells from a living gray wolf and employing CRISPR technology to modify 20 specific genetic sites, according to Colossal’s chief scientist, Beth Shapiro. This modified genetic material was then transferred to an egg cell from a domestic dog. Subsequently, the embryos were implanted into surrogate domestic dogs, resulting in the birth of the genetically engineered pups after a gestation period of 62 days.
Colossal has previously announced similar initiatives aimed at genetically altering cells from extant species to create animals resembling extinct woolly mammoths, dodos, and other creatures.
Matt James, Colossal’s chief animal care expert, acknowledged that while the pups may physically resemble young dire wolves, they will likely lack the crucial hunting skills acquired through observation and learning from wild dire wolf parents, stating, "what they will probably never learn is the finishing move of how to kill a giant elk or a big deer."
In a parallel development, Colossal announced the successful cloning of four red wolves using blood samples obtained from the critically endangered red wolf population in the southeastern United States. This effort aims to enhance genetic diversity within the small captive red wolf population, which is being utilized for breeding programs to aid in the species' conservation.
Christopher Preston, a wildlife expert at the University of Montana, highlighted the broader potential of this technology for species conservation, citing its less invasive nature compared to traditional cloning techniques. However, he also noted the practical challenges of sedating wild wolves for blood sample collection.
Colossal CEO Ben Lamm revealed that the team had briefed officials from the U.S. Interior Department on the project in late March. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum lauded the work as a "thrilling new era of scientific wonder" on X. However, external scientists tempered enthusiasm, underscoring the inherent limitations of recreating the past.
Lynch of Buffalo University concluded that "Whatever ecological function the dire wolf performed before it went extinct, it can't perform those functions" in contemporary ecosystems.