Brandon Fletcher
The innovative researchers at Colossal Biosciences, a leading biotechnology and genetic engineering firm, have been honored as the winners of the 2026 Gizmodo Science Fair. They developed a comprehensive pipeline that excels in genomic reconstruction, gene editing, and synthetic embryo maturation.
You may remember the remarkable outcome of their work: the birth of three “dire wolf” pups through surrogate dogs in 2025. This achievement utilized some, though not all, of the ancient genetic material from the North American dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus), painstakingly extracted from fossilized remains.
Can We Recover Genomic Data from Extinct Species?
Is it truly possible to recover complete genomic data from extinct species—particularly those that have been absent from Earth for tens of thousands of years or more? can we effectively use newly modeled genetic material based on the DNA of these extinct species, as well as living species facing extinction, to aid in the restoration of biodiversity for endangered animals and ecosystems?
What Are the Key Findings?
We can examine Colossal’s findings through two main lenses. Firstly, there are the three “dire wolf” pups: Romulus, Remus, and their younger sister Khaleesi, who was born about four months after her brothers. By their first year, the older pups each weigh over 120 pounds (54 kilograms) and measure around 4 feet (1.2 meters) long—heading towards a potential maximum weight of 150 pounds (68 kg) and a length of 6 feet (1.8 meters).
The impressive size of these wolves was one of the observable genetic traits that Colossal’s team decided to focus on during the genetic editing process to create these pups as living examples of their work. In total, they made 15 edits to 14 genes using CRISPR technology. Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi share more genetic similarities with modern common gray wolves (Canis lupus) than their ancient ancestors. An additional five genetic edits were made to the pups’ genomes, inspired by variations found in modern gray wolf DNA, which comprises approximately 19,000 genes.
The 20 minor edits resulted in significant physical changes, including the trio’s white fur coats, substantial size, enhanced strength in their legs and shoulders, and broader heads with larger teeth and jaws. Evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro, who is Colossal’s chief science officer, explained to Gizmodo that the decision to modify the pups’ fur color had practical implications.
“We believed this would be an achievable goal,” Shapiro stated during a video call from Colossal’s headquarters in Dallas. “It was a visible change that we could observe immediately.”
“For other traits like size and musculature, those will take more time to develop,” she added. “However, with the lighter fur, you can see the results right away. You could look at the pups and say, ‘We did it! That’s amazing!’”
This lighter fur color was inspired by genetic markers in the ancient dire wolf genome but was actually derived from similar genes found in gray wolf DNA. This decision aimed to minimize congenital risks of blindness and deafness often associated with these specific ancient genes. Concerns arose partly due to the potential link between these genes and Waardenburg syndrome in humans.
“We have sought traits that would lead to observable changes in the phenotypes we selected, while ensuring that our extensive research into gray wolves, mice, humans, and all other sequenced mammals suggests there are no associated risks,” Shapiro noted, who is also a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
The second key achievement for Colossal involved the cloning of four red wolves (Canis rufus), using the same technologies applied to create the “dire wolf”-like pups. The red wolf is classified as a protected species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, with only about 16 individuals remaining in the wild. to Colossal’s efforts, other conservationists have successfully bred approximately 270 more red wolves in captivity, awaiting reintroduction into their natural habitat in North America.
This cloning was achieved through traditional breeding methods, utilizing a dangerously limited gene pool of just 14 red wolves. Colossal collaborated with conservation geneticist Kristin Brzeski and evolutionary biologist Bridgett M. vonHoldt on their Gulf Coast Canine Project. Their research has traced the “ghost” DNA of historical red wolf populations that interbred with coyotes along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines. Although these red wolves seemed to have vanished into the larger coyote populations, their genetic legacy has opened exciting opportunities to reintegrate essential diversity into the red wolf gene pool.
“We rapidly redirected resources from the dire wolf project to focus on the red wolf initiative,” Matt James, Chief Animal Officer at Colossal Biosciences, shared with Gizmodo.
“Our tools were ready. Bridget and Kristin provided invaluable genetic resources from the ghost wolves. We recognized a vital mission with red wolves, and our technology served as the link between the genetic flow from this incredible lost population to a crucial recovery group,” James elaborated.
What Motivated Their Research?
Many members of Colossal’s research team joined the company out of a genuine commitment to utilizing cutting-edge science for global biodiversity restoration. While they also recognize the scientific significance of reviving the long-lost genetic material of prehistoric species such as the dire wolf and the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), their primary focus is on addressing the alarming rate of global species decline—a trend heavily influenced by human activities.
“Before joining this company, I spent 15 years in non-profit conservation efforts in North America,” James explained. (His previous roles included leading animal care and scientific initiatives at public zoos in Dallas and Miami.) “One of my responsibilities here is to find ways to apply de-extinction technology to species on the brink of extinction, which is a straightforward mission.”
Reflecting on the dire wolf project, James stated, “I believed one of the critical yet overlooked stories in North American conservation is the red wolf. It is the world’s most endangered wolf and should be as iconic to the United States as the bald eagle since it is truly endemic to the country. This recovery population needs support.”
Andrew Pask, Colossal’s chief biology officer, views the initiative to resurrect the extinct thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), often referred to as the Tasmanian tiger, as a vital step toward safeguarding currently endangered marsupials. Pask was recruited by Colossal due to his success in genetic engineering at the University of Melbourne, where he effectively redeployed small segments of the extinct thylacine’s genetic code in laboratory mice, demonstrating the feasibility of reviving the species.
“The extinction of the thylacine was a recent event driven by human actions. It played a crucial role in Tasmania’s ecosystem,” Pask remarked to Gizmodo. “Restoring this species is essential to reestablish balance within the ecosystem. We observe what we term ‘trophic downgrading’ when a cornerstone species disappears, as seen with the wolves’ removal from Yellowstone.” (This led to an explosion in elk populations, which excessively grazed the park by the late 1950s.)
Bringing back the thylacine will not only benefit its ecosystem neighbors but also provide genetic engineering techniques that can be applied to other endangered marsupial species across Australia, Pask highlighted.
“Australia is experiencing a staggering number of extinction events,” Pask stated, continuing his role as a professor of genetics and developmental biology at the University of Melbourne. “It has the highest extinction rate for mammals in any country globally.”
“There is an urgent need to develop conservation technologies for marsupials, and the thylacine project is paving the way for that.”
What Makes Colossal a Leader in Innovation?
Despite Colossal’s marketing around “de-extinction,” the company’s breakthroughs offer real promise for conservation initiatives. Beyond this, their work has advanced tools that paleontologists can utilize to map paleogenomes, enriching our understanding of ancient creatures, ecosystems, and the evolution process itself.
These advancements represent significant victories for foundational science, stemming from the essential innovations in computational biology and genomics required for Colossal’s ambitious projects.
The process of mapping the dire wolf genome began with two fossils: a 13,000-year-old dire wolf tooth (an incisor) discovered in Sheriden Pit, Ohio, and an even older skull found in Gigantobison Bay, Idaho, dating between 86,000 and 58,000 years ago.
As is typical with ancient DNA, the remnants of these dire wolves’ genetic sequences were fragmented, having endured thousands of years of degradation caused by ultraviolet radiation, microbial action, and the cyclical effects of freezing and thawing through the ages. When considering the length of genetic code in terms of nucleotides, the average length of these ancient DNA fragments measures around 60 nucleotides, according to Shapiro.
From research published by Shapiro and her international collaborators in the journal Nature in 2021, it was unclear which canid species was the closest relative to the dire wolf, leaving the team uncertain about the best approach to reconstruct the genome.
“We didn’t have clarity on the closest species to the dire wolf, as the previous study left it ambiguous, suggesting it could be related to either a jackal or to wolves,” Shapiro elaborated.
“We needed to identify the best scaffolding to help piece together our fragmented ancient DNA. we devised an approach called ‘iterative assembly.’”
Unlike the traditional de novo genome assembly, which aligns much longer strands of DNA—hundreds of millions of nucleotides in length—making it easier to identify overlaps, iterative assembly adjusts between scaffolding based on jackal and wolf genomes, gradually constructing a new hybrid reference genome.
“We update our scaffold and remap all the fragments to it. We then refine the scaffold repeatedly until it’s neither a wolf nor a jackal, but something entirely new, at which point we stop updating,” Shapiro explained to Gizmodo. “We can confirm the method’s effectiveness by mapping it to our previous data.”
Through the analysis of numerous DNA fragments, the team successfully mapped the dire wolf genome from the Sheriden Pit fossil (the tooth) 3.4 times, a measure known as “depth of coverage,” which assesses the consistency and reliability of their mapping efforts. For the Gigantobison Bay fossil (the skull), the depth of coverage reached 12.8 times.
“This approach is quite innovative and beneficial across all fields of ancient DNA research,” Shapiro noted. “We’re currently applying it to other genomes, and several labs working on ancient DNA are adopting similar methodologies.”
Some of Colossal’s notable academic research, supported by its ambitious endeavors to resurrect extinct charismatic megafauna, includes utilizing iterative assembly methods to study prehistoric DNA dating back to the early Pleistocene, roughly between 773,000 and 2.58 million years ago.
Love Dalén, a paleogenomics researcher at Stockholm University and a science advisor to Colossal, has contributed to this research. His work alongside colleagues at Stockholm’s Centre for Palaeogenetics has focused on developing advanced automated tools for iterative assembly (DNAharvester) and studying the evolution of various mammoth species throughout millions of years of Pleistocene history.
What Are Colossal’s Future Plans?
Given Colossal’s expansive ambitions, it’s challenging to cover everything they aim to achieve. Nevertheless, the company is venturing into avian cloning technology, unveiling an artificial egg this year that may eventually allow for the revival of extinct birds like the dodo and the moa. Their international network of laboratories is also collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on an ambitious BioVault initiative to collect, sequence, and preserve genetic material from over 2,300 threatened and endangered plant and animal species. Recently, they partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to modernize conservation efforts, enhancing the protection of IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.
Regarding their aspirations to rewild “ghost” red wolves or potentially attempt rewilding the dire wolf in the future, Colossal’s primary objective at this stage is to care for and study the cloned canids at their secretive 2,000-acre ecological preserve. This secure location has reportedly received certification from the American Humane Society. The team is focused on ensuring the health and viability of these genetically engineered specimens before considering their introduction into the wild.
The red wolves, according to James, are likely to remain in captivity, serving as “significant reservoirs of lost red wolf genetics” that may eventually be incorporated into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s existing captive red wolf population, enhancing their breeding and rewilding efforts.
“For the dire wolves,” Pask noted, “we will monitor their long-term health and reproductive capabilities to ensure that we are producing truly healthy animals through these technologies.” Thus, even if the reintroduction of dire wolves carrying the ancient DNA of Aenocyon dirus into North American forests does occur, it may take decades or longer to realize that goal.
“This is not a short-term endeavor,” Shapiro emphasized to Gizmodo.
Meet the Pioneering Team Behind the Research
The research team comprises Colossal Biosciences Chief Science Officer Beth Shapiro; the company’s founders, geneticist George Church and entrepreneur Ben Lamm; Bridgett vonHoldt from the Gulf Coast Canine Project, a geneticist and professor in Princeton University’s Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; and numerous other senior scientists, researchers, and support staff at Colossal Biosciences, including senior computational biologist Gregory Gedman and genome analysis specialist Kathleen Morrill Pirovich, among many others from partner academic institutions.
Interestingly, Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin is also credited as a co-author on Colossal’s recent peer-reviewed journal article detailing the reconstruction of the extinct dire wolf genome, which was published last month in Cell Genomics.
(George! Mr. Martin, is there anything outside of completing The Winds of Winter that you won’t dedicate yourself to?)
Click here to view all the winners of the 2026 Gizmodo Science Fair.
Daniel Mercer
David Bridges
