Overview

• Colossal Biosciences has revealed three genetically modified wolf pups housed in a private facility in the northern United States, claiming they exhibit traits of the extinct shadow wolf.
• The project involved editing 14 genes at 20 locations in the gray wolf genome using data from shadow wolf fossils sequenced in 2021.
• The pups, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, were created through embryos implanted into dog surrogates and are described as hybrids rather than true shadow wolves.
• Independent scientists argue the animals are genetically altered gray wolves with superficial similarities to shadow wolves, emphasizing the limitations of current de-extinction technology.
• The initiative highlights ongoing ethical and scientific debates about the feasibility and priorities of de-extinction efforts, with some experts advocating for conservation over species recreation.