Colossal Biosciences, founded by Ben Lamm, has introduced what they call 'de-extincted' dire wolves by editing the DNA of contemporary gray wolves. While these animals exhibit some characteristics of dire wolves, such as size and features, they are not true dire wolves as per traditional definitions. The concept reflects advanced genetic editing rather than cloning, offering a glimpse into the future of de-extinction science, though questions remain about the authenticity and ecological impact of such creations.
The animals, he says, are dire wolves, which went extinct more than 10,000 years ago. A large canine species that once roamed the Americas.
Lamm points out the characteristics that make these animals dire wolves: more pronounced shoulders, a slightly wider head, and thicker haunches than modern-day gray wolves.
Colossal isn't directly cloning preserved DNA from prehistoric animals, à la Jurassic Park. Instead, it's editing the genes of present-day relatives.
Lamm, a serial entrepreneur, cofounded Colossal in 2021 to bring back the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and other extinct animals.
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