No, the dire wolf has not been brought back from extinction

Dire Wolf ‘De-extinction’: Company Claims Revival of Extinct Species Through Genetic Modification

In a groundbreaking announcement, Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology firm, has declared the recreation of the dire wolf, an extinct species. The company asserts that through the innovative application of de-extinction science, they successfully reintroduced this species, absent for over 10,000 years, back into the ecosystem. This claim, prominently featured on their website, details the alleged restoration of the dire wolf. Here’s a breakdown of the available information.

Claims of Dire Wolf Recreation

Colossal asserts that three genetically altered grey wolf pups – Remus and Romulus, two males born in October, and Khaleesi, a female born in January – are, in essence, dire wolves. This declaration follows the company’s recent announcements regarding the creation of woolly mammoths and advancements in recreating the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, genome.

Understanding the Dire Wolf

Dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus) were substantial extinct canines inhabiting the Americas until approximately 10,000 years ago. Resembling large wolves with pale coats, they gained popular recognition from the television series Game of Thrones, which inspired the name “Khaleesi” for one of the pups.

Dire Wolf vs. Grey Wolf: Genetic Divergence

Contrary to assumptions based on physical similarities, grey wolves and dire wolves are not closely related. A 2021 analysis of ancient DNA revealed their last common ancestor existed roughly 6 million years ago. Genetically, jackals, African wild dogs, and dholes exhibit a closer relationship to grey wolves (Canis lupus) than dire wolves, despite superficial resemblances.

Genetic Differences Between Species

Beth Shapiro from Colossal Biosciences indicates that her team has sequenced the complete dire wolf genome, with plans for public release. While the exact number of genetic variations remains undisclosed, Shapiro mentioned a 99.5 percent DNA similarity between the two species. Given the grey wolf genome’s size of around 2.4 billion base pairs, even a small percentage difference accounts for millions of differing base pairs.

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Gene Editing and Species Transformation

Colossal contends that a mere 20 genetic modifications were sufficient to transform grey wolves into dire wolves. According to Shapiro, five of these edits replicate mutations known to cause light coats in grey wolves. The remaining 15 genetic alterations, derived directly from the dire wolf genome, aim to influence the animals’ size, musculature, and ear shape. The effectiveness of these modifications in producing the desired traits will require approximately a year of observation, Shapiro noted.

Are They Truly Dire Wolves?

The classification hinges on the definition of “species,” according to Shapiro. She elaborates, “Species concepts are human categorization systems, open to interpretation and varying valid perspectives. While a phylogenetic species concept [based on evolutionary relationships] might lead to a different conclusion… we are employing the morphological species concept, asserting that visual resemblance to the extinct animal qualifies them as such.”

Future of the Gene-Edited Wolves

Shapiro states the gene-edited wolves are being raised in an 800-hectare reserve for observation and care under close supervision. Breeding is not planned for these animals.