Overview

• Three genetically engineered wolf offspring—Remus, Romulus, and Khaleesi—are being raised in an 800-hectare reserve, marking a milestone in de-extinction research.
• Colossal Biosciences used ancient DNA from fossils to make approximately 20 genetic modifications to modern wolves, altering traits like size, musculature, and ear shape.
• The process involved implanting edited DNA into ovules carried by domestic dogs, resulting in offspring resembling the extinct giant wolf species, Canis dirus.
• Critics argue that the wolves are not true revivals of the extinct species but rather modern wolves with superficial modifications to mimic the original.
• Colossal Biosciences plans to expand its de-extinction efforts to other species, including the woolly mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian devil, sparking ethical and ecological debates.