SCIENCE: Scientists genetically engineer wolves to Resemble the extinct dire wolf (It's still an Extinct Species)

Geneticists and scientists used genetic engineering to bring back (to a point) an extinct canine species of wolf that died out over 10,000 years ago. Currently, there are three "Dire Wolves." Here's the story and why it's important. 

(Photo: Genetically engineered Dire Wolf. Credit: TIME Magazine) 

Scientists genetically engineer wolves with white hair and muscular jaws like the extinct dire wolf

By CHRISTINA LARSON, AP April 7, 2025

Three genetically engineered wolves that may resemble extinct dire wolves are trotting, sleeping and howling in an undisclosed secure location in the U.S., according to the company that aims to bring back lost species.

The wolf pups, which range in age from three to six months old, have long white hair, muscular jaws and already weigh in at around 80 pounds — on track to reach 140 pounds at maturity, researchers at Colossal Biosciences reported Monday.

WHAT ARE DIRE WOLVES, WHEN DID THEY LIVE?

The dire wolf is an extinct canine. Dire wolves, which went extinct more than 10,000 years old, are much larger than gray wolves, their closest living relatives today. The dire wolf lived in the Americas during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene epochs. The species was named in 1858, four years after the first specimen had been found. Two subspecies are recognized: Aenocyon dirus guildayi and Aenocyon dirus dirus.

DOES THIS MEAN THE SPECIES IS COMING BACK?

Independent scientists said this latest effort doesn’t mean dire wolves are coming back to North American grasslands any time soon. “All you can do now is make something look superficially like something else"— not fully revive extinct species, said Vincent Lynch, a biologist at the University at Buffalo who was not involved in the research.

VIDEO: No Longer Extinct? Colossal Biosciences' Dire Wolf Project

CAPTION: Colossal Biosciences' project to revive the once-extinct dire wolf could also prevent existing but endangered animals from slipping into extinction themselves. Read more: https://ti.me/4i8Ffxf (Video Link: https://youtu.be/q6ta3TX2Zgw?si=xC1h1Agp55Y8n-Qj)

Three genetically engineered wolves that may resemble extinct dire wolves are trotting, sleeping and howling in an undisclosed secure location in the U.S., according to the company that aims to bring back lost species.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

The wolf pups have long white hair, muscular jaws and already weigh in at around 80 pounds — on track to reach 140 pounds at maturity, researchers at Colossal Biosciences reported Monday. Dire wolves, which went extinct more than 10,000 years ago, are much larger than gray wolves, their closest living relatives today.

Though the pups may physically resemble young dire wolves, “what they will probably never learn is the finishing move of how to kill a giant elk or a big deer,” because they won’t have opportunities to watch and learn from wild dire wolf parents, said Colossal’s chief animal care expert, Matt James.

Colossal has previously announced similar projects to genetically alter cells from living species to create animals resembling extinct woolly mammoths, dodos and others.