In News:

A US biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, claims to have genetically engineered three grey wolf pups to carry traits of the extinct dire wolf, calling it a de-extinction.

What is De-Extinction?

De-extinction is the process of reviving extinct species using advanced biotechnological methods such as:

• Gene editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9),
• Cloning (e.g., somatic cell nuclear transfer),
• Ancient DNA sequencing and genome reconstruction,
• Synthetic biology to reintroduce key traits of extinct organisms.

Colossal Biosciences and the Dire Wolf Project

In late 2024, a U.S.-based biotechnology firm, Colossal Biosciences, announced the birth of three genetically engineered wolf pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—claimed to be the world’s first successful case of "functional de-extinction."

About the Dire Wolf

• Scientific name: Aenocyon dirus
• Habitat: Grasslands and forests of North America during the Pleistocene Epoch
• Extinction: ~12,500–13,000 years ago
• Characteristics: 25% larger than modern grey wolves; strong jaws to hunt megafauna like bison and horses; light-colored dense fur; social, pack-hunting predators.

Scientific Process Involved

• DNA Extraction: Ancient DNA was recovered from dire wolf fossils (13,000 to 72,000 years old).
• Genome Reconstruction: Sequencing and comparative analysis showed ~99.5% similarity between dire wolves and modern grey wolves.
• Gene Editing: Scientists edited 20 genes in grey wolves to replicate dire wolf traits like:
  • White, thick fur
  • Increased body mass
  • Enhanced musculature and coat pattern
• Cloning: Modified DNA was used to create embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer.
• Surrogacy: Embryos were implanted in large domestic dogs. Of several attempts, three pups survived.

Scientific and Ethical Concerns

• Experts argue these are not true dire wolves but genetically edited grey wolves with some dire wolf-like traits.
• Critics highlight the absence of peer-reviewed publication, limited understanding of epigenetic and behavioral factors, and the artificial environment in which the pups are raised.
• Colossal terms the process "functional de-extinction", meaning re-creating genetically and ecologically similar organisms, not exact replicas.

Ecological and Conservation Relevance

• Colossal claims the technology could help endangered species like the red wolf (native to the southeastern U.S.), threatened by habitat loss and hybridization with coyotes.
• Four clones of red wolf–coyote hybrids have been produced with potential use in restoring genetic diversity.
• The company aims to democratize conservation biotechnology, pledging to share tools with global conservationists and working with Native American communities.

Contemporary Debates

• Over 60 environmental groups have protested proposed U.S. legislation to delist grey wolves from the Endangered Species Act, warning of ecological consequences.
• Scientists urge caution, stressing that true resurrection of extinct species requires more than gene editing, as behavior, evolutionary context, and environmental adaptation cannot be synthetically replicated.