Brad Shaffer weighs in on Colossal’s dire wolf “de-extinction” claims

 Brad Shaffer was recently featured in a Gizmodo article investigating whether Colossal Biosciences has truly “resurrected” the extinct dire wolf. The company announced it had made 20 targeted genetic edits to gray wolves to emulate the traits of the Ice Age predator—part of its broader mission to bring back extinct species.

 While Shaffer and other evolutionary biologists expressed strong skepticism, cautioning that a handful of gene edits cannot recreate the full biological and ecological complexity of the dire wolf, not all experts were dismissive. Some, like comparative geneticist Greger Larson, acknowledged that while the effort doesn't qualify as true de-extinction, it still represents an exciting advance in genomic engineering that could have valuable scientific applications.

 Brad’s contribution offered a perceptive reminder that rigorous genomic science—like that led by CCGP—is essential in separating hype from meaningful conservation impact. The piece ultimately highlighted both the imaginative possibilities and the limitations of current genetic technology.