Colossal Biosciences’ 2-Year-Old Dire Wolves Reach 134 Pounds as Pair Nears 7 Feet
Updated
Updated · The Lamron · Nov 6
Colossal Biosciences’ 2-Year-Old Dire Wolves Reach 134 Pounds as Pair Nears 7 Feet
3 articles · Updated · The Lamron · Nov 6
Summary
Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi — genetically modified dire wolves created by Colossal Biosciences — have grown sharply at age 2, with Romulus at 134 pounds, Remus at 132 and Khaleesi at 102.
Romulus and Remus now measure nearly 7 feet from nose to tail, up from about 4 feet and 80 pounds when the pups were 6 months old.
Colossal said the animals were produced by editing gray wolf DNA with 20 genetic modifications using dire wolf DNA recovered from remains; gray wolves and dire wolves share 99.5% of their DNA code.
The company is keeping the wolves' location undisclosed, saying they hunt wild game where they live, Remus has emerged as pack leader, and more dire wolves may be added.
Colossal is pitching the project as proof that gene editing could help restore extinct or endangered species, with woolly mammoths among its other de-extinction targets.