A US startup has claimed to have brought back an animal that’s been extinct for over 13-thousand years, the dire wolf.
Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences says it has “successfully de-extincted” dire wolves through genetic modification using ancient DNA.
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“The successful birth of three dire wolves is a revolutionary milestone of scientific progress,” a press release stated.
The company says it’s celebrating the birth of three pups, and it even made the front cover of Time Magazine.
The creator of the popular fantasy series A Game of Thrones, George RR Martin, is an investor in the company. The hype surrounding the wolves has been fueled through references to characters who have dire wolves as pets.
Author George RR Martin (left) next to co-founder and CEO of Colossal, Ben Lamm (right).
However, some scientists are pouring cold water on the claims, saying not to buy into the hype.
Scientists are saying they have not brought back the dire wolf at all; rather, they’ve genetically modified a grey wolf to produce light coats.
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