A US company says it has genetically engineered wolves like those from a species that died out over 10,000 years ago. Colossal Biosciences says its aim is to bring back lost species and help those near extinction.
A US bioscience company has reconstructed the complete genome of a wolf species, the dire wolf, that went extinct more than 10 millennia ago to produce three wolf cubs that could resemble their ancient ancestors.
The three pups, named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi, which range in age from three to six months old, will be larger and more muscular than related modern gray wolves if and when they reach adulthood, Colossal Biosciences.
Using ancient DNA from fossils
Researchers at the company used ancient DNA from fossils dating back 11,500 and 72,000 years to reconstruct the genome of the dire wolf.
The scientists then took blood cells from a gray wolf and genetically modified them in 20 different sites, Colossal’s chief scientist Beth Shapiro told the AP news agency.
This genetic material was then transferred to an egg cell from a domestic dog, after which embryos were transferred to surrogates, also domestic dogs, she said.
The pups were then born 62 days later.
Their location has been kept secret to prevent inquisitive spectacle-seekers from disturbing them.
The pups currently weigh some 36 kilograms (80 pounds) with a length of 1.2 meters (4 feet) and are expected to grow to 1.8 meters at a weight of 68 kilograms.
According to Time magazine, the young wolves are being fed a diet of beef, horse, and deer meat, in addition to other offal and puppy chow.
