WORLD NEWS

Colossal Biosciences announces the "resurrection" of the dire wolf – a controversial claim in the field of genetic research.

By Aniket Chakraborty

Apr 28, 2025

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Image Credit | @colossal | X

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The company celebrates a "world's first" in de-extinction with the genetic editing of gray wolves to mimic the extinct species.

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Image Credit | @BenLamm | X

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Critics, including UC Davis' Paul Knoepfler, challenge the claims, arguing the feat doesn’t qualify as a true resurrection.

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Image Credit | @pknoepfler | X

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The dire wolf of Colossal’s creation is a modified gray wolf, not a full reconstruction of the original species, experts assert.

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Image Credit | @BenLamm | X

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Genetic edits have altered 14 genes of the gray wolf, but critics argue it's far from the real thing.

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Colossal's media campaign has generated excitement, though many scientists argue the narrative has outpaced the actual scientific achievement.

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CEO Ben Lamm defends the project, suggesting that critics focus too much on semantics rather than the groundbreaking science behind the feat.

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Image Credit | @BenLamm | X

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Environmental and ethical concerns arise about de-extinction, including the risks of releasing resurrected species into altered ecosystems.

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The scientific community remains divided over the ecological implications of resurrecting extinct species like the dire wolf.

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Image Credit | @BenLamm | X

Colossal has big plans for the future—with ambitious goals for other species, but the ethical and practical challenges remain unresolved.

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