Michaela
Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company, has announced the successful revival of dire wolves, the prehistoric canines famously featured in George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. This marks the first instance of an animal being brought back from extinction through advanced biotechnological methods.
Dire wolves, famously associated with Martin’s Stark family in Game of Thrones, made a remarkable return after nearly 10,000 years of extinction. Colossal Biosciences announced that the long-extinct canines, or a close genetic approximation, have been successfully revived using DNA extracted from two fossils. The process involved 20 genetic edits to the DNA of a gray wolf, the dire wolf’s closest living relative.
The biotechnology company successfully bred three dire wolves using its CRISPR technology, selectively enhancing traits such as the snowy white coats that were characteristic of the extinct species.
The three dire wolves — two male adolescents and one female puppy — are currently residing in a secure, 2,000-acre preserve at a confidential location. Colossal Biosciences estimates that the wolves will grow to weigh between 130 and 150 pounds as they mature.
“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 Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm in a statement. “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.”
While many associate dire wolves with fantasy, the creatures were real animals that once roamed the Americas. They are thought to have gone extinct around 10,000 years ago, likely due to the loss of the large herbivores they depended on for food.
Fossil evidence of these ancient canines has been uncovered at L.A.’s La Brea Tar Pits, where over 3,600 dire wolf remains have been found. The museum next door proudly showcases around 400 of these skulls, offering visitors a glimpse into the past of this long-extinct species.
Additionally, Colossal announced its goal to reintroduce the dire wolf as a thriving species. The company plans to establish ecological preserves for these restored creatures on Indigenous lands across North America, ensuring their sustainable future in the wild.
Colossal’s groundbreaking achievement marks a major milestone not only for Game of Thrones and fantasy enthusiasts but also for the field of biotechnology. This advancement pushes the limits of genetic engineering and de-extinction efforts, demonstrating the potential of modern technology to restore extinct species.
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