Colossal Biosciences Says Three Genetically Modified Wolf Pups Reach Breeding Age

Three dire wolf pups created last year by Colossal Biosciences have reached reproductive age, the Texas-based biotechnology firm announced. Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi were brought into existence using ancient genetic material to modify the DNA of living wolves.

The pups, named after Rome's legendary founders and the dragon queen from George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, were delivered via caesarean section after genetically altered cells were placed into dog egg cells and transferred to surrogate canines.

Dire wolves vanished roughly 12,000 years ago as the last ice age drew to a close. 58 million to roughly 11,700 years ago, the predators lived across North and South America. Researchers examined grey wolves as the nearest living relatives of dire wolves and identified genetic differences between the two species.

They obtained dire wolf DNA from a skull discovered in Idaho dating back 72,000 years and from a tooth found in Ohio that was 13,000 years old. Scientists then performed 20 modifications to grey wolf DNA. The changes introduced a pale coat, enlarged teeth, increased musculature and a unique vocalisation.

Where their diet consists of beef, venison, horse meat and specially developed dry food. Colossal Biosciences intends to produce more dire wolf pups before the end of 2026. Ben Lamm, the chief executive and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, said the animals are progressing well.

"The dire wolves are doing great," Lamm stated. " Matt James, the company's chief animal officer, outlined the longer-term ambition. "The plan is to create an inter-breedable population of dire wolves in which they would eventually breed naturally to create a sustainable population of the world's first de-extincted species," James said.

The ultimate objective of Colossal Biosciences is establishing a self-sustaining population of dire wolves that breeds without human intervention. GB News reported that the firm has ambitions extending beyond dire wolves. Colossal Biosciences aims to bring back the dodo and reintroduce it to Mauritius, where the flightless bird was hunted to extinction during the 17th century.

The company has created "woolly mice" by inserting mammoth genetic traits into small rodents. The thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, which disappeared in 1936, features on the company's de-extinction list. So too does the moa, a bird standing 12 feet tall that once roamed New Zealand's forests before dying out between the 13th and 15th centuries.

The firm also revealed last month its intention to resurrect the Bluebuck, a distinctive blue antelope from southern Africa that was wiped out within four decades of scientists first documenting it. GB News reported that Colossal Biosciences is pursuing these projects as it works toward de-extinction of multiple species.