In a groundbreaking achievement, biotech startup Colossal Biosciences has successfully engineered dire wolves, a species that has been extinct for over 12,000 years. The company's co-founder and CEO, Ben Lamm, revealed the news on Monday, showcasing two six-month-old male dire wolf pups, Remus and Romulus, and a two-month-old female pup, Khaleesi, at a secretive location in the northern United States.

The dire wolves were created using CRISPR technology and ancient DNA extracted from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. Colossal's researchers compared the ancient DNA with that of the gray wolf and found that the species are 99.5% genetically identical. They then used CRISPR to edit gray wolf cells with 20 genes that govern the dire wolf's outward appearance, resulting in the birth of the dire wolf pups.

While the achievement is undoubtedly impressive, some scientists have expressed skepticism about whether the engineered animals truly represent a "de-extinction" of the dire wolf species. David Gold, a professor of Paleobiology at UC Davis, argued that the animals are more accurately described as gray wolf-dire wolf hybrids, rather than true dire wolves. Alexander Young, a professor of statistical genetics at UCLA, echoed this sentiment, stating that the modifications made to the gray wolf genes were relatively minor and did not constitute a full "de-extinction" of the species.

Colossal's co-founder, George Church, defended the company's achievement, pointing out that only 0.3% of the gray wolf's genes were altered to create the dire wolf, and the remaining 0.2% variation was left unchanged. Church also noted that the company had deliberately avoided introducing genes that could cause deafness and blindness in the animals, citing ethical concerns.

The motivation behind Colossal's dire wolf project is closely tied to the company's conservation efforts. Lamm revealed that the idea to recreate the dire wolf came about by "sheer accident," when the company was looking to expand its species portfolio. The dire wolf project aligns with Colossal's goal of pairing "de-extinction" with conservation projects, and the company plans to use its technology to help save the critically endangered red wolf species.

In fact, Colossal has already applied its technology to create four red wolf clones, with plans to create more and eventually re-wild them. The company is also in talks with Indigenous communities about possibly re-wilding the dire wolves on their lands. For now, Colossal's scientists and animal specialists are monitoring the behavior and health of the dire wolf pups.

The implications of Colossal's achievement extend beyond the scientific community, with potential revenue streams emerging from the company's technology. Lamm has outlined several potential revenue sources, including the spin-off of new companies, charging governments for conservation services, and generating revenue through the sale of biodiversity credits.

As Colossal continues to push the boundaries of biotechnology and conservation, the question remains: is the science behind its "de-extinction" projects enough to justify the company's $10.2 billion valuation? Only time will tell, but with its latest breakthrough, Colossal has undoubtedly taken a significant step forward in its mission to "de-extinct" and conserve endangered species.