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Biotech Firm Colossal Biosciences Achieves Dire Wolf De-extinction
In a landmark achievement for genetic engineering and species revival, Colossal Biosciences, a Texas–based biotechnology and engineering firm, has announced the successful de-extinction of the dire wolf. This extinct canine, recognizable to some from popular culture, has been brought back through advanced scientific processes. Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences, provided insights into this remarkable feat of de-extinction and its implications for conservation efforts.
Further details regarding Lamm and Colossal Biosciences’ groundbreaking work on dire wolf de-extinction are provided below.
The Process of Dire Wolf Revival
According to a press release from Colossal Biosciences, the de-extinction process involved several key steps:
- Extraction and sequencing of ancient DNA from two dire wolf fossils.
- Assembly of ancient genomes from both specimens and comparative analysis against genomes of extant canids, including wolves, jackals, foxes, and dholes.
- Identification of gene variants unique to dire wolves.
- Determination of physical traits of dire wolves, such as a white coat color and dense fur.
- Application of multiplex gene editing to a donor genome from the gray wolf, the closest living relative of the dire wolf.
- Screening of edited cell lines using whole genome sequencing and karyotyping.
- Cloning of high-quality cell lines via somatic cell nuclear transfer into donor egg cells.
- Execution of embryo transfer and management of interspecies surrogacy.
- Successful birth of the de-extinct species.
About Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences
Ben Lamm is the Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder of Colossal Biosciences. As an entrepreneur and investor, Lamm has been a prominent figure at numerous public events, advocating for his company’s ambitious goal of de-extincting multiple species. Regarding the dire wolf project, Lamm expressed immense pride in the Colossal team’s accomplishments.
In a press release issued in April 2025, Lamm stated, “This significant milestone represents the first in a series of forthcoming examples demonstrating the efficacy of our comprehensive de-extinction technology. Our team successfully derived DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to produce healthy dire wolf pups. It has been said that ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ Today, our team is unveiling some of the ‘magic’ they are creating and its wider impact on species preservation.”
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The Role of George Church
George Church, a renowned geneticist, is also a co-founder of Colossal Biosciences. In the company’s 2025 press release, Church commented on the broader implications of their work, stating, “Preserving, expanding, and rigorously evaluating genetic diversity is crucial, especially for endangered animal species like the red wolf, before they are irrevocably lost. Our novel technologies for de-extincting lost genes, which include advanced ancient DNA sequencing, polyphyletic trait analyses, multiplex germline editing, and cloning, offer another avenue for enhancing ecosystem variety. The dire wolf project serves as an initial demonstration of this capability, featuring the most extensive precise genomic edits in a healthy vertebrate achieved to date – a capability that is rapidly advancing.”