We need strict rules for genetically engineered animals

The extinct dire wolf's part resurrection raises questions of how far this science can be allowed to go

- RAHUL MATTHAN

Last month, biotech firm Colossal Biosciences announced that it had resurrected the dire wolf, an Ice Age predator that was made famous by the fictional TV series Game of Thrones. As much as the birth of Colossal's cubs Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi might seem like Jurassic Park-style wizardry, it has forced us to consider the consequences of de-extinction technology, its relevance to conservation, and the guardrails we must erect to stave off any harmful ecological impact that might result.

Despite what these cubs look like, it is important to state upfront that they have not been created from the genetic remains of actual dire wolf fossils. DNA extracted from fossil remains is too fragmented to be useful for genetic engineering. As a result, Colossal scientists turned to synthetic biology to achieve these results. Instead of creating this long-extinct animal from scratch, it created something that looks like a dire wolf by simply tweaking the genes of its nearest living relative—the grey wolf.

Colossal identified 20 genetic differences across 14 genes that it could modify, carefully choosing to ensure nothing it did resulted in unintended consequences. For instance, to achieve the dire wolf's characteristic white coat, it decided to disable the genes MCIR and MFSD12 instead of targeting other more obvious pigmentation genes, as that could have resulted in the genetically engineered offspring being born deaf or blind. While the cubs were born with a gorgeous white coat, it is too early to say what size they will grow to and whether they will also have the distinctive dire wolf howl.