Colossal Biosciences—the genetic engineering company best known for its mission to revive the woolly mammoth—has achieved another groundbreaking feat: the return of the extinct dire wolf.
The Dallas-based biotech firm announced Monday the successful birth of three dire wolf puppies, marking a major milestone in demonstrating the viability of its cutting-edge “de-extinction technologies.” The breakthrough showcases the potential for reviving other long-lost species.
According to Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm, this marks the first time a de-extincted animal has been successfully brought back to life.
“Our team extracted DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to create healthy dire wolf puppies,” Lamm said in a press release. “It was once said, ‘any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ Today, we’re proud to reveal some of that ‘magic’ and its potential to transform conservation as we know it.”