Colossal Biosciences has recently made headlines in the field of de-extinction with its groundbreaking efforts to bring back previously extinct species. The Texas-based biotechnology company, founded in 2021 by Harvard geneticist George Church and entrepreneur Ben Lamm, has achieved what many considered impossible: the first dire wolf pups in over 10,000 years.

Dire wolves weighed between 130 to 150 pounds, stood three feet at the shoulder, and were about six feet long. They went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene epoch approximately 10,000 years ago, and these new puppies mark the company’s first major achievement in species revival. According to published reports, Colossal’s scientists extracted DNA from well-preserved specimens, sequenced the genetic material, and used CRISPR gene-editing technology to reconstruct the extinct genome.

The process involved recreating key genetic sequences and implanting them into a closely related canid species to act as a surrogate. The resulting pups, named Romulus, Remus, and Khalessi exhibit genetic markers that paleogeneticists recognize as consistent with dire wolf DNA, based on fossil evidence.

Beyond dire wolves, Colossal Biosciences is also working on reviving other extinct species, including the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger. The company’s mission extends beyond scientific achievement—they aim to restore biodiversity and potentially rehabilitate damaged ecosystems by reintroducing keystone species.

The scientific community remains divided on the ecological and ethical implications of such efforts. Critics argue that resources could be better spent protecting endangered species, while supporters believe that these techniques can create powerful new tools for conservation biology.

For now, the dire wolf pups remain in controlled research environments, where scientists are closely monitoring their development, health, and behavior. Colossal has stated that it plans to publish peer-reviewed findings as the animals mature.