"Are the 'great wolves' returning with science?"

Wildlife expert Christopher Preston from the University of Montana stated that this technology could also be beneficial for the conservation of other species because it is less invasive compared to other techniques used for animal cloning.

Three genetically modified puppies resembling the 'dire wolf,' which went extinct 10,000 years ago, are running, sleeping, and howling in a secret security area in the U.S. The company Colossal Biosciences, which aims to bring extinct species back to life, announced this development on Monday. These wolves, aged between three and six months, have long white fur, strong jaws, and already weigh about 36 pounds. According to researchers, they could reach up to 63 pounds when they reach adulthood. The three puppies have been named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. These wolves are much larger than their closest living relatives, the gray wolves. However, independent scientists state that this development does not mean that dire wolves will soon return to the North American plains. Biologist Vincent Lynch from the University of Buffalo emphasizes that "the only thing you can do right now is superficially liken one thing to another," highlighting that extinct species cannot be fully resurrected. Lynch is one of the experts not involved in the research. Scientists at Colossal identified some physical traits specific to dire wolves by analyzing ancient DNA samples. For this purpose, a 13,000-year-old tooth found in Ohio and a 72,000-year-old skull fragment discovered in Idaho were examined. Researchers then modified blood cells taken from a living gray wolf at 20 different genetic points using CRISPR gene-editing technology. This genetic material was transferred to the egg cell of a domestic dog. The developing embryos were then placed in surrogate mothers, also dogs. After 62 days, the genetically modified puppies were born. Colossal had previously announced similar projects to produce species resembling extinct woolly mammoths, dodo birds, and others. Although the puppies physically resemble a young dire wolf, Colossal's animal care expert Matt James stated, "They will likely never learn the skill to deliver a lethal blow to a giant buffalo or a large deer." This is because they do not have the opportunity to learn this behavior by observing a wild dire wolf. The company also announced that four red wolves have been cloned using blood samples taken from the critically endangered red wolf population in the southeastern U.S. The aim is to introduce genetic diversity into the small captive red wolf population and prevent the species from going extinct. Christopher Preston from the University of Montana mentioned that this technology could also benefit the conservation of other species because it is less invasive compared to other techniques used for animal cloning. However, he pointed out that even this method requires sedating a wild wolf and taking a blood sample, which is not an easy process. Colossal CEO Ben Lamm stated that they met with officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior at the end of March to discuss this project. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum described this work on Monday via X as "an exciting new era filled with scientific wonders." However, some outside scientists reminded that there are limits to fully bringing back the past. Lynch from the University of Buffalo noted critically, "Whatever ecological function the dire wolf performed in nature before its extinction, that function cannot be fulfilled in today's environments."