A U.S. biotech start-up, Colossal Biosciences, has successfully brought back the dire wolf species after over 10,000 years of extinction. The company’s researchers used cloning and gene-editing techniques to create three modern dire wolf pups, including two males named Romulus and Remus and a female named Khaleesi. The extinct species was made famous in the TV series Game of Thrones.
Colossal achieved this feat by using DNA samples from ancient dire wolf remains, which were over 13,000 years old. The company’s chief executive, Ben Lamm, called the development a “massive milestone” and praised his team for their work. The dire wolves will be raised in a secure ecological preserve with continuous monitoring.
The dire wolf is an important part of American ecosystem history, and its return could contribute to conservation efforts. Colossal also announced plans to clone four red wolves using blood drawn from wild wolves, aiming to increase genetic diversity in the critically endangered species.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dire-wolf-extinction-brought-back-colossal-biosciences-b2729237.html