The successful revival of dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus) by Colossal Biosciences marks an extraordinary journey from ancient DNA fragments to living, breathing animals. This scientific achievement, announced on April 8, 2025, transformed 13,000-year-old genetic code into three healthy dire wolf pups named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi.
The scientific process began with the extraction of ancient DNA from two well-preserved dire wolf fossils: a tooth from Sheridan Pit, Ohio, approximately 13,000 years old, and an inner ear bone from American Falls, Idaho, around 72,000 years old. These rare specimens provided the genetic blueprint that would guide the resurrection effort.
Extracting usable DNA from specimens this old presented enormous challenges. Ancient DNA is typically highly fragmented and degraded, with only random portions of the genome surviving. Dr. Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s Chief Science Officer and a leading expert in ancient DNA, led the team that overcame these obstacles through innovative sequencing and computational approaches. [Read more…] about Dire Wolves: From Ancient DNA to Living Animals
