Dallas, Texas – Colossal Biosciences don announce say dem successfully bring back dire wolves, wey don extinct for over 10,000 years, as dem birthed two male pups, Romulus and Remus, plus one female, Khaleesi.
Colossal, wey be biotech company, say dem use cloning and gene-editing technology based on ancient DNA to achieve dis groundbreaking feat. ‘Our team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies,’ Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal, talk.
Dis new scientific adventure begin when Colossal scientists analyze dire wolf genome from di ancient remains, discover 20 differences for 14 genes wey shape wetin make dire wolves unique, like their bigger size and distinctive white coat.
To replicate dis characteristics, dem isolate endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from living gray wolves and edit di genes to include di endangered traits of di dire wolves. Dis technique make am less invasive compared to traditional cloning.
After several experiments, dem successfully create embryos wey carry di new genetic codes, with just two embryos maturing into Romulus and Remus, delivered by Cesarean section to avoid complications. Khaleesi follow dem some months later.
Dem still dey monitor di pups wey don show natural wolf behaviors, dem sabi how to howl and stalk any movement. But these dire wolves get unique settings; dem dey live for fenced ecological preserve wey get enough space to roam.
Colossal don talk say dis technology no go only bring back extinct species but also help endangered ones too. For instance, dem don clone red wolves to boost di dwindling population.
Plenty scientists and conservationists dey support Colossal, though some dey express concerns about di possible effects of genetically reintroduced species on existing ecosystems. Still, Lamm and his team remain optimistic about di future.
As di dire wolves live di good life for their well-cared preserve, di broader mission dey clear: to explore di possibilities of de-extinction, tweak genetic codes, and one day reintroduce other extinct species like di woolly mammoth back to di wild.
