Three individuals of a wolf species that went extinct about 10,000 years ago were born thanks to advances in genetic engineering: Using preserved ancient DNA, scientists at Colossal deciphered the Dire Wolf genome and modified the genetic code of the common gray wolf to match it. With domestic dogs as surrogate mothers, Romulus, Remus and their sister Khaleesi, now 2 months old, were born in three separate births last fall and winter. For the first time, a lineage of beasts whose living gene poo

Scientists bring back dire wolves after 12,500 years of extinction. Colossal Biosciences has produced three dire wolf pups—two males and one female—using gene editing, cloning, and ancient DNA from fossils dated 13,000 to 72,000 years old. By editing 14 genes in gray wolf cells to match dire wolf traits like thick fur, stronger jaws, and broader skulls, scientists recreated the dire wolf phenotype. The embryos were implanted into domestic dogs. The pups, born in late 2024 and early 2025, now liv