The once-extinct dire wolf species has been brought back to life after 10,000 years, and George R.R. Martin‘s “Game of Thrones” lore deserves some of the credit.
While Martin is not a genetic scientist, he did serve as a cultural advisor and investor of Colossal Biosciences, which has successfully resurrected the dire wolf species — much to Jon Snow’s delight. Dare we wonder if real dire wolves will be used onscreen for the “Game of Thrones” franchise?
As a Time cover about the Colossal Biosciences project teased, “The dire wolf is back after over 10,000 years. Here’s what that means for other extinct species.”
Two dire wolf pups, siblings Romulus and Remus, were made in a lab using ancient DNA from fossils up to 72,000 years old. Colossal reconstructed a full genome through CRISPR edits. (And yes, this is the premise of “Jurassic Park.”) The wolves were born October 1, 2024. Peter Jackson loaned his Iron Throne prop for a photoshoot with both pups.
“You’re hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10,000 years,” the team at Colossal said in a statement. “Meet Romulus and Remus — the world’s first de-extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024. The dire wolf has been extinct for over 10,000 years. These two wolves were brought back from extinction using genetic edits derived from a complete dire wolf genome, meticulously reconstructed by Colossal from ancient DNA found in fossils dating back 11,500 and 72,000 years. This moment marks not only a milestone for us as a company but also a leap forward for science, conservation, and humanity.”
Colossal continued, “From the beginning, our goal has been clear: To revolutionize history and be the first company to use CRISPR technology successfully in the de-extinction of previously lost species. By achieving this, we continue to push forward our broader mission on — accepting humanity’s duty to restore Earth to a healthier state. But this isn’t just our moment — it’s one for science, our planet, and humankind. All of which we love and are passionate about. Now, close your eyes and listen to that howl once more. Think about what this means for all of us.”
