“Game of Thrones“ creator George R.R. Martin has had his very own fantasy moment, becoming one of the first people to meet real-life dire wolves, the very same majestic creatures that appeared on his legendary TV series.
In February, Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, invited Martin to witness these newly resurrected dire wolf pups, Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. According to sources, Martin was so moved by the experience that he was brought to tears when he met the pups, which were brought to life using ancient DNA technology.
A Dream Come True for Martin:
Martin was overwhelmed with joy and shared his thoughts with Lamm, calling the experience one of the greatest moments of his life. He also reflected on the rich history of the dire wolves, explaining on his blog that despite their mythical status, they played a significant role in shaping the American ecosystem long ago.
How Colossal Biosciences Resurrected the Dire Wolves:
The dire wolves, which vanished about 13,000 years ago, are a genetic marvel. Colossal Biosciences achieved this by editing the DNA of a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull from the dire wolf’s closest living relative: the gray wolf. By tweaking this DNA, they’ve successfully bred a hybrid that closely resembles the dire wolf pups seen in Martin’s series.
The Return of the Dire Wolves:
The newly resurrected pups are now living in a nature preserve with top-tier fencing and care provided by Colossal Biosciences, ensuring their well-being under the strict standards of the American Humane Society and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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As fascinating as the de-extinction process is, one can’t help but imagine the chaos if something went wrong with the wolves’ DNA — a scenario that might feel like “Game of Thrones” meets “Jurassic Park.”
