Three genetically engineered wolves resembling extinct dire wolves are currently in a secure location in the U.S., with researchers aiming to bring back lost species. The wolf pups, aged three to six months, have long white hair, muscular jaws, and weigh around 80 pounds, on track to reach 140 pounds at maturity. Dire wolves, which went extinct over 10,000 years ago, are much larger than gray wolves, their closest living relatives.
The process involved studying ancient DNA from fossils, including a dire wolf tooth from Ohio and a skull fragment from Idaho, to determine specific traits. Using CRISPR, researchers genetically modified blood cells from a living gray wolf and transferred them to an egg cell from a domestic dog. The genetically engineered pups were then born to surrogates.
Colossal Biosciences has also cloned four red wolves using blood drawn from wild wolves to increase genetic diversity in the captive red wolf population. This technology may have broader applications for conservation efforts. Though the engineered pups physically resemble dire wolves, they may not learn the necessary skills from wild dire wolf parents.
While Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised the project as a “thrilling new era of scientific wonder,” outside scientists note limitations in restoring extinct species, as they may not perform the same ecological functions on today’s landscapes. The technology, although less invasive than other cloning techniques, still requires a wild wolf to be sedated for a blood draw.
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