This ANIMAL is back after 13,000 Years | The De-Extinction of the Dire Wolf
Direwolves Are Back: Fact or Fiction?
Table of Contents
- Direwolves Are Back: Fact or Fiction?
- The First “Resurrected” Direwolves
- Skepticism and Doubts
- History of the Direwolf
- Why Did Direwolves Go Extinct?
- The Three Methods of De-Extinction
- The Role of Colossal Biosciences
- Modern DNA and Digital Fossils
- Final Thoughts: Are These True Direwolves?
Direwolves Are Back: Fact or Fiction?
Hello, friends!
An animal that went extinct 13,000 years ago, the Direwolf, today, it lives with us once more, because of genetic engineering. Or so it is claimed by the Colossal Biosciences Company. This company also claims that in the future, it will de-extinct many such popular extinct animal species — like the Tasmanian tiger, the Dodo bird, and the Woolly Mammoth.
The First “Resurrected” Direwolves
According to this company, the Direwolf is their first successful attempt to de-extinct an animal.
It’s a species made popular by the Game of Thrones TV show. Many characters had pet Direwolves. Inspired by this, the two Direwolves born through the company’s efforts were named Romulus and Remus. This project was carried out at a secret location in America. Here, you can see them in a video, playing happily in a barn.
They are 5 months old and unaware of how unique they are — born into a world where no other members of their species exist. Along with them, there’s a third Direwolf, a female named Khaleesi.
Skepticism and Doubts
Everything sounds amazing at first. But many people, including experts, have raised serious doubts.
They claim that these aren’t true Direwolves but genetically engineered versions of common wolves. So, how exactly was this done? Let’s dive deeper.
History of the Direwolf
It was 1854 when fossils of the Direwolf were first found near the Ohio River in America.
In 1858, American scientist Joseph Leidy classified it under the Canis genus, naming it Canis Dirus — meaning “scary dog.”
In 1918, another scientist, John Merriam, argued that Direwolves were vastly different from modern wolves and deserved a separate classification. His claims were ignored back then.
For over a century, people believed Direwolves were close relatives of grey wolves. However, in 2021, a study published in the Nature Journal completely changed our understanding. It found that Direwolves had separated from modern wolves about 5.7 million years ago and were very different genetically. They lived alongside grey wolves and coyotes but never interbred.
Why Did Direwolves Go Extinct?
The exact reason is unknown.
One theory is that Direwolves hunted larger prey that eventually went extinct, leading to their downfall. Another theory suggests they couldn’t adapt to environmental changes because they couldn’t interbreed like grey wolves.
In terms of appearance, Direwolves were about 25% bigger than modern wolves, had broader skulls, more powerful jaws, and lighter fur. They lived in packs, just like today’s wolves.
The Three Methods of De-Extinction
There are three main ways to attempt de-extinction: Back Breeding, Cloning, and Genetic Engineering.
1. Back Breeding
In this method, scientists selectively breed living relatives that still carry ancient traits.
An example: the Quagga Project.
The Quagga, a subspecies of the zebra that went extinct in 1883, was partially recreated by selectively breeding zebras with fewer stripes. Over 20 years and three generations later, they bred zebras that looked almost identical to the original Quagga.
Limitations:
Even if the appearance is similar, the recreated animal might not have the same genetic traits as the original.
2. Cloning
Cloning creates an exact genetic copy but requires healthy preserved cells.
The first successful cloning of an animal was Dolly the sheep in 1996.
For de-extinction, scientists tried to clone the Spanish Bucardo goat. Although they managed to birth a cloned kid, it died within 10 minutes due to lung defects — making the Bucardo the first animal to go extinct twice.
Limitations:
Cloning success rates are extremely low, and it requires well-preserved DNA, which is rare for extinct species.
3. Genetic Engineering
This is the newest and most promising method.
Scientists extract DNA from fossils, identify the missing pieces, and edit the DNA of living relatives to recreate the extinct species’ DNA.
After editing, the altered DNA is placed into embryos just like cloning.
Challenges:
- Fossil DNA is often damaged or incomplete.
- Editing millions of genes accurately is extremely complex.
The Role of Colossal Biosciences
In 2021, billionaire Ben Lamm and genetics expert George Church founded Colossal Biosciences.
They claim to be leading the way in using genetic engineering to de-extinct species like the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the direwolf.
Modern DNA and Digital Fossils
An interesting comparison:
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Final Thoughts: Are These True Direwolves?
In reality, bringing back the exact same Direwolf is next to impossible — due to incomplete DNA and technological limits.
Most likely, these new animals are genetically engineered wolves that closely resemble Direwolves — but aren’t truly identical to the ancient species.
Regardless, it’s an exciting glimpse into the future of science — and the ethical debates that come with it.
