Focus on the BIG picture.
Friday, Apr 25, 2025

Colossal Biosciences Claims to Revive Extinct Dire Wolf Species Amid Scientific Skepticism

The US biotechnology company announces the birth of three genetically modified pups, drawing mixed reactions from experts in the field.
Colossal Biosciences, a US biotechnology company, has announced the birth of three dire wolf pups, a species that has been extinct for over 10,000 years.

The company claims to have accomplished this feat by modifying the genome of a modern grey wolf using DNA extracted from dire wolf fossils.

The announcement includes footage of what Colossal describes as adolescent cubs named Romulus and Remus, along with a female puppy named Khaleesi.

The fossils used for DNA extraction reportedly include a 13,000-year-old dire wolf tooth and a 72,000-year-old inner ear bone.

Despite this claim, reporters have noted that they could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage or the specifics about its location and timing.

Experts, however, have expressed skepticism regarding these claims.

Corey Bradshaw, a professor of global ecology at Flinders University in Australia, argues that modifying the complete genomes of animals that have been extinct for such long periods is practically impossible, largely due to DNA degradation over time.

He stated, "Yes, they have slightly genetically modified wolves, maybe.

And that's probably the best that you're going to get.

And those slight modifications seem to have been derived from retrieved dire wolf material.

Does that make it a dire wolf?

No. Does it make a slightly modified grey wolf?

Yes."

Bradshaw further criticized the lack of supporting evidence accompanying Colossal's claims, mentioning that such omissions raise significant concerns about the credibility of their assertions.

In contrast, Beth Shapiro, the chief scientific officer at Colossal Biosciences, has articulated that species classification is subjective and can be interpreted differently depending on the concepts used.

She referred to the phylogenetic species concept, which focuses on evolutionary relationships, and contrasted it with the morphological species concept, which emphasizes physical characteristics.

Emily Roycroft from Monash University’s Evolutionary and Conservation Genomics Research Group elaborated that species identity encompasses much more than external appearance.

She highlighted that the genetic divergence between extinct dire wolves and current grey wolves has accumulated over millions of years, making simple genetic modifications insufficient to recreate an extinct species.

"Editing a few genes of the grey wolf does not make a dire wolf," she stated.

Colossal Biosciences was founded in 2021 and claims to be the first biotechnology company leveraging CRISPR gene editing technology in the pursuit of species de-extinction.

The company has also reported successful cloning of critically endangered red wolves and the creation of genetically engineered mice that exhibit traits associated with the long-extinct woolly mammoth.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Intelligence Chief Refers Classified Leak Cases to Justice Department
U.S. Justice Department and DOGE Announce Cuts to Federal Grants Amid Broader Government Efficiency Efforts
Trump administration moves to BAN essentially ALL artificial food dyes in the USA food supply at RFK Jr.'s direction
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
The legacy media will never show you this side of President Trump
In God We Profit
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
Greek Christians Celebrate Easter in Thessaloníki
US Federal Reserve Chair Issues Warning on Tariff Impact
UK Prison Officers Demand Electric Stun Guns Amid Safety Concerns
China, China, China!
El Salvador Proposes Prisoner Exchange with Venezuela Amid Deportation Controversy
US Government Defends Deportation of Salvadoran National Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Australian National Charged as Mercenary for Fighting in Ukraine
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
A casino in Mexico burns at the hands of cartels
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Pope Francis Makes Brief Appearance at Easter Sunday Mass
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Alphabet Faces Antitrust Setbacks as Federal Judges Rule Against Google
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
Britain, as is well known, was never truly a democracy, but today it has even stopped bothering to pretend that it is
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
US Billionaires Call for Higher Taxes, but Proposed 'Millionaires Tax' May Not Achieve Desired Outcome
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Designed in US, made in China: Why Apple is stuck in tariff tussle
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
US Government to Reclassify Career Employees Working on Policy Matters
U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Massachusetts Assault Weapons Ban
NBA Coach Steve Kerr Backs Harvard Amid Trump Administration's Federal Funding Freeze
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
US-China Trade War: Trump Expects 'Very Good Deal' Amid Escalating Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
US Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Rapid Deportation Policy
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
China's Largest iPhone Factory Resumes Hiring After Tariff Exemption
×