(Photo JORGE GUERRERO)
Scientists are playing God once again, and although they may have recently achieved something admittedly cool, it’s all but doomed to backfire in the worst possible ways.
Biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced Monday that they have revived an extinct dire wolf species using “meticulously reconstructed” DNA from fossils that date back to 11,500 and 72,000 years. The company is calling the two wolves, aptly named Remus and Romulus in a nod to the myth of ancient Rome’s origins, the world’s first “de-extinct animals.”
SOUND ON. You’re hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10,000 years. Meet Romulus and Remus—the world’s first de-extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024.
The dire wolf has been extinct for over 10,000 years. These two wolves were brought back from extinction using… pic.twitter.com/wY4rdOVFRH
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) April 7, 2025
“This moment marks not only a milestone for us as a company but also a leap forward for science, conservation, and humanity. From the beginning, our goal has been clear: ‘To revolutionize history and be the first company to use CRISPR technology successfully in the de-extinction of previously lost species,’” the company wrote on X. “By achieving this, we continue to push forward our broader mission on—accepting humanity’s duty to restore Earth to a healthier state. But this isn’t just our moment—it’s one for science, our planet, and humankind.”
I have to admit that, on a superficial level, the idea of elusive dire wolves returning to Earth’s ecosystem is fascinating, But I have a deep mistrust of scientists who want to tinker or mess with complex systems like nature, just as I have a deep mistrust of government officials who think they can centrally plan a utopia economy.
The dire wolf experiment is probably going to backfire in ways that cannot be foreseen in the immediate moment. Just like researchers playing around with viruses in Wuhan. You never know what sorts of complications might arise from introducing a new species, let alone if/when these genetic technologies are ever seriously applied to human beings.
Do we really want to live in a world in which humans are genetically modified like grapes in a grocery store? Are we to sacrifice our natural humanity to maybe, just maybe, “fix” genetic flaws? I don’t think so.
Scientists have too much hubris. And yes, science may have led to life-saving technologies that have benefited mankind, but for every technology that has improved civilization, there is a technology like social media that stands to ruin it.
