"Science Revives Extinct Dire Wolves"

Bringing a super-sized canine back from extinction after 12,500 years might sound like a plot from a blockbuster movie filled with dramatic special effects, but it's become reality. The world now has three dire wolves residing in a secret location in the US, thanks to the efforts of biotech company Colossal Biosciences.

Colossal Biosciences, driven by what could be described as an extreme Game of Thrones fandom, used DNA from the common gray wolf, gene-editing techniques, and domestic dog surrogates to bring to life Romulus, Remus, and their younger sister, Khaleesi. These dire wolves are a sight to behold: huge, white, and utterly awe-inspiring.

“I could not be more proud of the team. This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works,” stated Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal.

“Our team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and created healthy dire wolf puppies. It was once said, ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ Today, our team gets to unveil some of the magic they are working on and its broader impact on conservation.”

Colossal Biosciences is no stranger to making headlines. They previously engineered a Colossal Woolly Mouse, which essentially resembled a mouse sporting a very shaggy hipster coat, to mimic the mammoth phenotype. This was achieved using computational analysis of 59 woolly, Columbian, and steppe mammoth genomes spanning from 3,500 to over 1,200,000 years old. Critics argue that the dire wolves are merely normal wolves in fancy dress, suggesting that the dire wolf DNA used isn't sufficient to create a true genetic clone.

The company's motives extend beyond creating a social media sensation or owning impressive pets. Colossal Biosciences aims to leverage its findings to help preserve current wildlife for future generations.

“The de-extinction of the dire wolf and an end-to-end system for de-extinction is transformative and heralds an entirely new era of human stewardship of life,” said Dr. Christopher Mason, a scientific advisor and member of the board of observers for Colossal.

“The same technologies that created the dire wolf can directly help save a variety of other endangered animals as well. This is an extraordinary technological leap in genetic engineering efforts for both science and for conservation as well as preservation of life, and a wonderful example of the power of biotechnology to protect species, both extant and extinct.”

For these dire wolves, Colossal Biosciences has partnered with the American Humane Society and the USDA to ensure their 2,000+ acre preserve meets the highest standards. Like any celebrated figures, the wolves have a dedicated team to look after them.