Dire wolves are grey wolves with modified DNA. (Image credit: Colossal Biosciences)
On April 7, biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced that it had recreated extinct dire wolves, stating outright that it was “the resurrection of a once-extinct dire wolf.” Shortly thereafter, the company’s chief scientific officer clarified that the creatures were not, in fact, dire wolves.
Three snowy white wolves, Khaleesi, Romulus and Remus, became the focus of global attention when a biotech company claimed they were the world's first de-extinct dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus), brought back after more than 10,000 years of extinction. Researchers were quick to criticize the claim as misleading, pointing out that the wolves were in fact just genetically modified gray wolves (Canis lupus).
In a recent interview, Colossal's chief scientific officer, Beth Shapiro, confirmed that the “dire wolves” are actually just gray wolves with 20 modified genes. However, she also insisted that the company has never tried to hide the wolves' true nature.
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