Dr. George Church isn’t only a scientist—he’s probably the most visionary minds in genetics. As a co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, he’s serving to lead the cost to revive extinct species just like the woolly mammoth and dire wolf.
Right here’s all the things to know in regards to the man behind a number of the world’s boldest biotech concepts.
Who Is Dr. George Church?
Dr. Church is a geneticist, molecular engineer, chemist, and the co-founder of Colossal Biosciences. He’s finest recognized for his pioneering work in genome sequencing, gene modifying—significantly CRISPR—and artificial biology.
Certainly one of his most exceptional accomplishments is his long-standing position as a professor at Harvard College, the place he has helped launch round 50 biotech firms from his lab. In 2017, he was named one in every of Time journal’s 100 most influential individuals on this planet.
What Is Colossal Biosciences?
Colossal Biosciences is a biotechnology firm co-founded by Dr. Church and Ben Lamm in 2021. Its mission is to make use of superior genetic engineering to revive extinct species, restore ecosystems, and drive conservation innovation. The corporate’s most talked-about tasks embody efforts to carry again the woolly mammoth, dire wolf, northern white rhinoceros, Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo fowl.
What Is a Dire Wolf?
The dire wolf (Canis dirus) was a prehistoric predator that roamed North and South America throughout the Pleistocene Epoch earlier than going extinct round 10,000 years in the past. Bigger and extra strong than at the moment’s grey wolves, dire wolves have been recognized for his or her highly effective construct.
Whereas they gained popular culture fame by exhibits like Recreation of Thrones, the real-life animals have been fairly completely different from their fictional counterparts. In keeping with a number of sources, they measured round six toes in size and weighed between 130 to 150 kilos.
Is the Dire Wolf Nonetheless Extinct?
It seems the dire wolf is not extinct. Scientists at Texas-based Colossal Biosciences have efficiently introduced the species again, introducing three adolescent pups—two males named Romulus and Remus, and a feminine named Khaleesi.
“Our crew took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old cranium and made wholesome dire wolf puppies,” stated Colossal CEO and co-founder Lamm in a assertion. “It was as soon as stated, ‘any sufficiently superior know-how is indistinguishable from magic.’ Right now, our crew will get to unveil a number of the magic they’re engaged on and its broader influence on conservation.”
SOUND ON. You’re listening to the primary 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 have been introduced again from extinction utilizing… pic.twitter.com/wY4rdOVFRH
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) April 7, 2025
