Colossal Biosciences Creates Genetically Modified Wolves with Dire Wolf Traits

The company has engineered three pups with partial dire wolf DNA, raising ethical and conservation concerns over authenticity and ecological implications.

Colossal Biosciences announced the birth of three genetically modified wolf pups, incorporating dire wolf DNA into gray wolf genomes using CRISPR technology.
The pups, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, are housed in a 2,000-acre nature reserve, but experts argue they are not true dire wolves, only gray wolves with minor genetic edits.
Critics, including bioethicists and conservationists, question the project's scientific value, ethical basis, and potential to divert resources from protecting endangered species.
The U.S. Interior Department has cited the project as evidence for deregulating endangered species protections, a move conservationists warn could harm existing biodiversity efforts.
While the project demonstrates advancements in genetic engineering, its practical conservation benefits remain unclear, with many calling it a technological showcase rather than a solution.

The Scientist Magazine®