Dire Wolves Return? Company Claims “De-Extinction” Success with Newborn Pups
Rómulo, Remo, and Khaleesi have made their grand entrance, marking a potential turning point in biotechnology. These aren’t your average pups; they’re claimed to be dire wolves (*Aenocyon dirus*), a species that vanished from the earth 12,500 years ago. Colossal Biosciences, a US-based biotech firm, is claiming it has successfully brought them back.
“This is the world’s first successfully de-extinct animal,” declared Colossal Biosciences, headquartered in Dallas, sparking both excitement and debate.
This landmark achievement opens a Pandora’s Box of possibilities: could lost species once again roam our planet? However, the ethics of such “de-extinction” efforts are already under intense scrutiny.
But how exactly does one resurrect an extinct animal? What’s the science behind this incredible feat?
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 de-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… pic.twitter.com/wY4rdOVFRH
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) April 7, 2025
Unraveling the Dire Wolf Revival: A Scientific Breakthrough?
Speaking with *La Tercera*, Dr. Miguel Allende Connelly, a professor at the University of Chile and Director of the Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (IM-CRG), confirmed the theoretical possibility of reviving extinct species.
The key, he explains, lies in “recovering the complete genome of the extinct species – the intact and complete genetic blueprint. Then, attempting to introduce that genome into a cell of a closely related species, thereby imbuing the existing species with the characteristics of the extinct one.”
This is the approach Colossal Biosciences reportedly used, resulting in the three dire wolf pups, described as a “hybrid species” bearing a striking resemblance to their prehistoric ancestor.
In this specific instance, “a partial recovery of some characteristics of this organism” was achieved.
The expert emphasizes that a perfect replica requires the complete genome, a feat rarely attainable.
Furthermore, these procedures are far from simple and universally applicable.
Currently, CRISPR technology plays a crucial role, allowing scientists to precisely edit an organism’s DNA.
This powerful tool “can make changes at will in the genetic material,” Dr. Allende Connelly explains. “Therefore, using the genetic or genomic information of the extinct wolf, it was possible to change the genome in some parts of a currently existing wolf.”
Scientists can potentially replicate traits like fur color, size, and even certain behaviors, utilizing genomes from fossils or preserved biological material.
In essence, the dire wolf pups aren’t a complete “regeneration” of the species, but rather a replication of select characteristics to create a similar appearance.
Could We See Mammoths or Even Dinosaurs Return? The Future of De-Extinction
Following this logic, bringing back other extinct animals becomes conceivable, given a partial or complete genome and a closely related living species.
“For example, when we talk about the mammoth, we have to take an elephant, which is the closest existing organism,” states Dr. Allende Connelly.
This technique could also prove invaluable for species teetering on the brink of extinction, such as the white rhinoceros, or for animals that have recently disappeared. Success is more likely when “closely related species are almost always available.”
But what about dinosaurs?
“If the species became extinct a very long time ago, like dinosaurs, which is the example fictitiously shown in *Jurassic Park*, it is much more complex because there are two problems: one, we do not have good genetic material preserved from those ancient species that disappeared hundreds of millions of years ago.”
He continues, “Second, there are no animals related or closely related to them. Perhaps the closest ones could be some modern birds or some other reptiles, but even so, it is very difficult to reproduce a dinosaur.”
Despite these challenges, Dr. Allende Connelly views this experiment as significant and inspiring. “It is a good start to a process that could be very useful to rescue or preserve species that are in danger of extinction or that have recently become extinct.”
Keywords: Dire Wolf, De-Extinction, Colossal Biosciences, CRISPR, Extinct Species, Biotechnology, Genetics, Genome, Mammoths, Dinosaurs, Conservation, Science News.
Deja una respuesta