DALLAS, TX — Colossal Biosciences, a company known for its work in genetic engineering, has made history by successfully bringing back the extinct dire wolf, a canine species that disappeared over 10,000 years ago.
Using advanced gene-editing technology, Colossal has created two male dire wolves, Romulus and Remus, born six months ago, and their two-month-old sister Khaleesi, based on ancient DNA extracted from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi are expected to reach weights between 130 and 150 pounds.
According to Colossal, the process involved editing the DNA of a modern gray wolf, the closest living relative of the dire wolf, and adding genetic material from ancient dire wolves. Check out the video from Colossal below:
Ben Lamm, the CEO of Colossal Biosciences, described the project as a major step forward in science. “Our team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies,” says Lamm.
“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.”
The dire wolf has always fascinated people, especially because of its glimpse in pop culture and film, specifically Game of Thrones.
The company’s project got a big boost from Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, who visited the preserve to meet the new wolves. He said, “Many people view dire wolves as mythical creatures that only exist in a fantasy world, but in reality, they have a rich history of contributing to the American ecosystem.”
To mark the occasion, Colossal even had Romulus and Remus fly out to Dallas for a photo shoot, sitting on the Iron Throne, the iconic prop from the hit TV show. Beloved Hollywood director Peter Jackson, who is an investor in Colossal, reportedly loaned the Iron Throne prop to the company for the photo shoot. The throne was sold in a six-minute auction last year for $1.49 million, with the winning bid placed by an anonymous buyer. There are speculations that Jackson himself may have been the anonymous bidder.
Dire wolf twins Remus and Romulus on the Iron Throne prop from Game of Thrones, loaned by owner Peter Jackson.
The Dire Wolf, Ghost, in Game of Thrones
(Credit: gameofthrones.fandom.com)
This isn’t the first big step for Colossal. The company has also worked on bringing back the woolly mammoth and has created a creature called the Woolly Mouse, which shares some features with the extinct mammoth.
For now, Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi are living proof that de-extinction is no longer just a fantasy but a reality. These new pups live on a 2,000-acre preserve, where they are monitored as they grow.
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