Colossal Biosciences Announces the Birth of the World’s First De-Extincted Dire Wolves
USA Today covers the landmark moment that proved functional de-extinction is no longer a theory
USA Today was among the first outlets to cover Colossal Biosciences’ announcement of the world’s first functionally de-extincted dire wolves, reporting on the births of Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi in depth. The piece traces the science from its starting point: a 13,000-year-old tooth found in Ohio and a 72,000-year-old skull from Idaho, from which Colossal’s team recovered enough DNA to build two dire wolf genomes. Those genomes were compared against modern canid species to identify the 20 edits across 14 genes that define the dire wolf’s distinguishing traits, from its white coat and larger build to its characteristic vocalizations. Elinor Karlsson, director of vertebrate genomics at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT and a member of Colossal’s advisory board, told USA Today that the work “could help us preserve genetic diversity that is on the brink of disappearing from earth today.” Chief Science Officer Beth Shapiro put the stakes plainly: “We have to keep in mind and understand that there is an incredible risk in the decision not to use these technologies. We know what the consequences of that decision are and it’s an increased rate of extinction throughout the world.” Read the full story at USA Today.