Game of clones: Colossal’s new wolves are cute, but are they dire?
1 min read
Summary
“De-extincted” wolves, which Texas-based Colossal Biosciences says are genetically modified grey wolves, have been created in a US preserve to protect them from curious observers.
The animals, which include two males called Romulus and Remus, and a female called Khaleesi, were created using a combination of gene editing and cloning.
Genetic differences between the two species amount to “several million letters of DNA”, according to Anders Bergström, a canine evolution specialist, who called the animals “strange-looking gray wolves”.
Colossal’s CEO, Ben Lamm, said the project – which has also seen red wolves cloned – was not intended to make money, and the animals would not be put on display.
The de-extincted animals were created to highlight biotechnology’s potential for conservation, rather than as a practical exercise.