Scientists bring extinct dire wolves back from the dead in real-life 'Jurassic World' moment

Over the last few years, science has grown so rapidly that nothing seems impossible. Now, imagine if we told you that bringing extinct animals back to life was possible; would you believe it? However, a group of skilled Colossal scientists has efficiently resurrected a particular species of wolf that had died nearly 12,500 years ago, as reported by CNN Science. Yes, that's right! The Dallas-based biotech company, Colossal Biosciences (@colossal on X), recently announced the groundbreaking achievement of the de-extinction of three dire wolf pups by using ancient DNA, cloning and gene-editing technology.

In the now-viral post, the officials posted an adorable video of newborn wolf pups, Romulus and Remus, born in October 2024. What makes the video even more special is the fact that people were hearing the first howl of a dire wolf after more than 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," they wrote in the caption. 

Further, the officials shared that from the very beginning, their goal was clear; they wanted to be the first company to use CRISPR technology to bring back extinct species. "By achieving this, we continue to push forward our broader mission of 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," they added. While responding to the comments, Colossal Biosciences revealed why they thought reviving dire wolves was a necessity. They shared that wolves play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem and restoring them would further foster conservation goals.

Meanwhile, @basedmikelee commented, "Love that they named them Romulus and Remus—the twin founders of Rome, raised by a she-wolf." Similarly, @dirtbaggerybr suggested, "I’m sorry, you’re planning to do what with these? Don’t get me wrong, this is hella cool, but for the love of God, don’t release these into the wild." @empath_angry wrote, "Half of me wants to scream in horror because everything in me knows on a cellular level that this is a very bad idea... The other half is begging you to CRISPR me a pet pterodactyl named Pete."

@profmanishpatel said, "This just changed the game. Science isn't just studying history anymore—it’s rewriting it. Welcome back, Romulus and Remus." On the other hand, @web3danaaa commented, "Whoa, this is huge! This isn't just a win for science; it's a big leap for conservation and our responsibility to the planet. But at the same time, with all this groundbreaking tech, I hope you guys are also considering the consequences of bringing back species and how it impacts the environment. It's amazing, though, really. Big moves for science, big moves for humanity, but let's be cautious with this power too. :)"

Ben Lamm, Colossal's cofounder and CEO, revealed that their team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to make healthy dire wolf puppies. Now, the 6-month-old puppies are living on a 2,000-acre site at a confidential location. To ensure their safety, the wolf puppies are being monitored constantly by the security team, drones, and real-time camera footage.

You can follow Colossal Biosciences (@colossal on X) for more science-related content.