Dax Shepard Grills Colossal CEO on the Science of De-Extinction

Colossal Biosciences claims these animals are a triumph of genetic engineering, but the project has ignited friction within the scientific community. To create these wolves, researchers analyzed ancient DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old ear bone. By performing 20 targeted edits across 14 genes in gray wolf cells, the team produced embryos subsequently implanted into domestic surrogates.

Critics argue this process does not constitute true de-extinction. Because the puppies are not clones of the extinct predators but rather genetically modified gray wolves designed to mirror prehistoric traits, many experts categorize them as engineered animals rather than resurrected species. Despite the debate, Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi continue to grow rapidly on a secure 2,000-acre preserve, with the males already reaching 120 pounds.

This work is merely a precursor to Colossal’s broader ambitions. Founded in 2021 alongside Harvard geneticist George Church, the company is currently attempting to engineer a cold-resistant elephant with woolly mammoth characteristics. While these headline-grabbing projects dominate the conversation, Lamm maintains that the underlying technology is aimed at practical conservation. The company is actively collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve genetic material from endangered species and develop tools to boost diversity in threatened populations, suggesting that the quest for lost creatures may ultimately serve the survival of those still living.