Bringing a super-sized canine back from extinction after 12,500 years might sound like the plot of a blockbuster movie filled with special effects and dramatic scenes, but it's now a reality. The world is home to three dire wolves, residing in a secret location in the US, thanks to the efforts of the biotech company Colossal Biosciences.
“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,” said CEO of Colossal, Ben Lamm.
“Our team took DNA from a 13,000 year old tooth and a 72,000 year old skull and made 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.”
However, the company's ambitions extend beyond creating social media sensations or exotic pets. Colossal Biosciences aims to leverage its findings to enhance the preservation of current species 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.”
To ensure the well-being of these dire wolves, Colossal Biosciences has collaborated with the American Humane Society and the USDA to establish a 2,000+ acre preserve where Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi live, supported by a dedicated team of caretakers.
