Colossal Introduces Gene-Edited Dire Wolves in Landmark De-Extinction Milestone

Colossal Biosciences announces the birth of three gene-edited pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—designed to mimic traits of the extinct dire wolf without using direct ancient DNA. By making about 20 targeted edits across key genetic loci, the team aims to replicate historical physical characteristics in a new canid lineage. The article dives into both the technical achievement and the questions it raises: Is this true de-extinction, or selective trait engineering? It also addresses critics who caution against overstating ecological revival. Colossal frames the Dire Wolf project as a scientific milestone that advances functional de-extinction, offering a testbed for future conservation technologies. The story emphasizes the balance between ambition and responsibility as biotech challenges the boundaries of extinct species revival.

Read the full feature in USA Today