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INSANE: 2 - The Real Truth

Why are we so obsessed with bringing back the woolly mammoth?

In just the last several months, de-extinction — bringing back extinct species by recreating them or organisms that resemble them — has moved closer from science fiction to science fact. Colossal Biosciences — an American for-profit de-extinction startup headed by geneticists George Church and Beth Shapiro — announced two major…

The Conversation

Is Colossal Biosciences the Real-Life Jurassic Park?

When you hear about a company actively working to bring back extinct animals using genetic science, your mind probably jumps to one place: Jurassic Park. The iconic gates, the majestic (and terrifying) dinosaurs, and the tagline that promised a walk with prehistory are permanently etched in our cultural DNA.

International Business Times

If it looks like a dire wolf, is it a dire wolf? How to define a species is a scientific and philosophical question

Biotech company Colossal Biosciences made headlines in April 2025 after claiming it had “successfully restored … the dire wolf to its rightful place in the ecosystem.” Three wolf pups – Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi – were born through this de-extinction project.

The Conversation

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'Our animals are gray wolves': Colossal didn't de-extinct dire wolves, chief scientist clarifies

Colossal Biosciences' chief scientist has clarified that its "dire wolves" are just genetically modified gray wolves following a backlash to the "de-extinction" label it put on them.

LiveScience

Colossal's de-extinction campaign is built on a semantic house of cards with shoddy foundations — and the consequences are dire

"Dire wolves" created by Colossal Biosciences were pegged as "the first animals in history to be brought back from extinction." But that all depends on your definition of de-extinction — and Colossal's definition isn't the same as everyone else's.

LiveScience

Colossal's Dire Wolf De-Extinction: The Science Behind the Breakthrough

Colossal's de-extinction process involved a sophisticated fusion of ancient DNA analysis, CRISPR gene editing, and reproductive technologies.

International Business Times

"De-extincting" species is a distraction

"De-extinction" takes center stage as environmentalists express dismay over erosion of the Endangered Species Act

Salon

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Return of the huia? Why Māori worldviews must be part of the ‘de-extinction’ debate

The recent announcement of the resurrection of the dire wolf generated considerable global media attention and widespread scientific criticism.

The Conversation

Colossal Bioscience’s attempt to de-extinct the dire wolf is a dangerously deceptive publicity stunt

Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, made headlines this April after falsely claiming to resurrect the extinct dire wolf. The company presents this as a breakthrough for conservation biology. However, our team of conservation geneticists at the Western University — along with many other academics views it as a dangerous…

The Conversation

Have dire wolves been brought back from extinction? Not quite

Wolf conservationists say the truly dire matter is protecting America’s wild gray wolves — but that’s not as cute and cuddly for the headlines

The Independent UK

‘De-extinction’ of dire wolves promotes false hope: technology can’t undo extinction

Over the past week, the media have been inundated with news of the “de-extinction” of the dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) – a species that went extinct about 13,000 years ago.

The Conversation

If we must bring back extinct species, let’s focus on the giant herbivores

The American genetic engineering firm Colossal Biosciences recently announced to much fanfare it had “de-extincted” the dire wolf, a canine species that was wiped out around 10,000 years ago. However, the three animals it presented are actually modern grey wolves with some genetic modifications.

The Conversation

Why ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves are a Trojan horse to hide humanity’s destruction of nature

With wildlife populations globally 73% smaller on average than in 1970 and large mammals missing from much of the world, surely there’s never been a better time to “de-extinct” species? US biotech company Colossal Biosciences Inc claimed to do just that recently by resurrecting the dire wolf from Game of…

The Conversation

Why resurrect the dire wolf when existing animals are facing extinction?

It’s not as sensational as recreating long-dead species, but conserving modern-day fauna is far more pressing

The Guardian - UK

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International Business Times

US Firm Says It Brought Back Extinct Dire Wolves

They whimper, drink from baby bottles and crawl oh so tentatively -- they look like cute white puppies, not the fruit of a daring project to resuscitate an extinct species.

The Guardian - UK

Have researchers really ‘de-extincted’ the dire wolf? No, but behind the hype was a genuine breakthrough

The pups are cute – and great for PR – but they’re modified grey wolves. The real work is being done with their red cousins, says science writer Helen Pilcher

The Conversation

Can we really resurrect extinct animals, or are we just creating hi-tech lookalikes?

From dire wolves to woolly mammoths, the idea of resurrecting extinct species has captured the public imagination. Colossal Biosciences, the Dallas-based biotech company leading the charge, has made headlines for ambitious efforts to bring back long-lost animals using cutting edge genetic engineering.

LiveScience

Colossal's de-extincted 'dire wolf' isn't a dire wolf and it has not been de-extincted, experts say

Scientists recently revealed that they have "brought back" extinct dire wolves thanks to genetic engineering — but experts say the newly created animals are only like dire wolves in appearance.

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The Independent UK

The truth behind the de-extinction of the dire wolf

ANALYSIS: It’s a resurrection story made for the headlines, but beneath the dramatic narrative lies a more nuanced story

Euronews

No, dire wolves extinct for 10,000 years are not back. But this is what de-extinction tech could do

Using CRISPR technology, a company called Colossal says it has de-extincted a wolf species last seen thousands of years ago. Or has it?

International Business Times

Dire Wolf Resurrected: Colossal's Breakthrough Sparks Debate As Musk Asks For Pet Mammoth

Elon Musk has joined the frenzy over the adorable dire wolves brought to life by a genetics and biosciences company, but their "de-extinction" has also raised concerns on whether it's a good thing or not to revive a long-extinct species.

Bored Panda

Dire Wolves From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Resurrected From Extinction, Sparking Ethical Debate

Dire wolves, which vanished off the face of the Earth over 10,000 years ago, have been revived with the creation of three puppies, Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi.

The Independent UK

Scientists announce dire wolf species has been brought back from extinction after 10,000 years

The extinct animal was made famous in the TV series Game of Thrones

Evening Standard

Dire wolf has been brought back from extinction, say US scientists

Colossal Biosciences’ chief executive Ben Lamm called the development a ‘massive milestone’

Reason

Colossal Biosciences Resurrects Long-Extinct Dire Wolf

Next up are woolly mammoths, dodos, and Tasmanian wolves.

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