Archive · 24 May 2025
Modified Gray Wolves: Are They Truly Dire Wolves?
A company called Colossal Biosciences announced the birth of "dire wolf" pups, which got everyone excited.
These pups, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, are actually gray wolves with about 20 genes changed.
Scientists used old dire wolf fossils to figure out the differences from gray wolves, then used gene editing to make the changes.
These edited gray wolves were put in a dog and born.
While they look like dire wolves, they are still technically gray wolves.
The debate is over what truly defines a species.
Colossal thinks it's based on looks, but others think it is based on their capability of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
Colossal Biosciences announced the birth of pups resembling dire wolves.
The company's chief science officer confirmed the pups are genetically modified gray wolves.
Scientists used gene editing technology, CRISPR, to modify gray wolf DNA.
Around 20 genes were edited to resemble the extinct dire wolf.
The creation sparked debate over the definition of a species.
- Who
- Colossal Biosciences, with chief science officer Beth Shapiro, created the modified gray wolves.
- What
- Colossal Biosciences created modified gray wolves that resemble extinct dire wolves through genetic engineering.
- When
- April 7, 2025, when Colossal Biosciences announced the birth of the pups.
- Where
- North America and parts of western South America are where dire wolves once roamed.
- Why
- To create an animal that resembles the extinct dire wolf using genetic modification, showcasing advancements in biotechnology.
Mainstream Scientific View
Colossal Biosciences View
Species Definition
Mainstream Scientific View
Most scientists define species based on the ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring, classifying the pups as modified gray wolves.
Colossal Biosciences View
Colossal Biosciences views the modified wolves as dire wolves based on their appearance, using the morphological species concept.
- Company
- Colossal Biosciences
- Animal
- Modified gray wolves (resembling dire wolves)
- Genetic Edits
- Approximately 20
- Method
- CRISPR gene editing
- Original Species
- Gray wolf