According to ABC News, Scientists have reportedly revived the extinct 'dire wolf', which vanished more than 10,000 years ago.
Colossal Biosciences utilized ancient DNA from fossils to edit gray wolf genomes, resulting in the birth of three pups—Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi—via surrogate dogs. These animals are now housed in a secure 2,000-acre nature preserve.
Beth Shapiro, Colossal's chief scientist, said, "If it looks like that species, if it is acting like that species... then you've done it." "We've taken a gray wolf genome, a gray wolf cell. which is already genetically 99.5% identical to dire wolves because they're very closely related," Shapiro said. "And we've edited those cells at multiple places in its DNA sequence to contain the dire wolf version of the DNA."
Shapiro’s team used surrogate dogs -- which have since been adopted through the humane society -- to help give birth to the dire wolves and Colossal says no animals were harmed in the process.
Doctor Julie Meachen expressed skepticism, suggesting the result is "something new" rather than true dire wolves.
Others online are saying things such as " I totally disagree with bringing animals that went extinct thousands of years ago or even millions of years ago back. Though fascinating, there is a reason they went extinct."
This development aligns with Colossal's broader de-extinction efforts, including projects to revive the woolly mammoth by 2028.