When tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm co-founded Colossal Biosciences with Harvard geneticist George Church in 2021, their vision of resurrecting extinct species seemed like science fiction. Less than four years later, that vision has become reality with the announcement of the world’s first de-extinction: the birth of three dire wolf pups, marking a watershed moment in conservation biology and genetic science.
The dire wolf, a species that has been extinct for over 12,500 years, has returned through a remarkable fusion of ancient DNA analysis, genetic engineering, and reproductive technology. Named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, these three pups represent not only a scientific milestone but potentially a transformative moment for how we approach wildlife conservation.
“I could not be more proud of the team,” said Lamm in the company’s announcement. “This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works. Our team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies.”
Under Lamm’s leadership, Colossal has developed a comprehensive approach to de-extinction that begins with extracting and analyzing ancient DNA from fossil specimens. For the dire wolf project, scientists worked with two samples: a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. By comparing this ancient genetic material with that of modern canids, they identified 20 key genetic differences across 14 genes that account for the dire wolf’s distinctive traits.
Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, Colossal modified cells from gray wolves to express these dire wolf characteristics, including their white coat, larger size, and more powerful jaws and shoulders. The edited cells were used to create embryos through an innovative cloning technique, which were then implanted in surrogate mother dogs.
What makes Lamm’s approach particularly significant is his emphasis on practical applications beyond the headline-grabbing resurrection of extinct species. Alongside the dire wolf announcement, Colossal revealed it had successfully cloned four red wolves using the same techniques—potentially helping to save North America’s most critically endangered canid species, which currently numbers fewer than 20 individuals in the wild.
“We are an evolutionary force at this point,” says Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer, speaking of humanity’s role in shaping biodiversity. “We are deciding what the future of these species will be.”
The Center for Biological Diversity suggests that 30% of the planet’s genetic diversity could be lost by 2050, and Lamm insists that genetic engineering is a vital tool to reverse this trend. Rather than viewing de-extinction as a scientific curiosity or novelty, he frames it as a moral imperative—a way for humans, who have driven so many species to the brink of extinction, to help restore balance to natural ecosystems.
This perspective has resonated with investors. Colossal has achieved “decacorn” status with a valuation exceeding $10 billion, attracting funding from diverse sources including notable figures like Paris Hilton, Peter Jackson, and sports stars Tiger Woods and Tom Brady. The State of North Dakota has also invested, eyeing potential applications for preserving their dwindling bison population.
Beyond conservation, Lamm sees commercial potential in the technologies Colossal is developing. The company has already spun off two ventures: Breaking, which uses engineered microbes to break down plastic waste, and Form Bio, which provides AI and computational biology platforms for drug development.
The three dire wolves currently reside in a secure 2,000-acre preserve at an undisclosed location, where they’re monitored around the clock by a team of veterinarians and animal care specialists. The MHA Nation tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara) have expressed interest in having dire wolves live on their lands in North Dakota, a possibility Colossal is exploring.
As Ben Lamm continues to pioneer new frontiers in genetic conservation, the dire wolf project stands as a powerful demonstration of what’s possible when visionary leadership combines with cutting-edge science. Through Colossal’s work, extinction may no longer represent an irreversible endpoint but rather a challenge that can be overcome through human ingenuity and technological innovation.