Scientists revive dire wolf using breakthrough biotech—Tom Brady and Tiger Woods play surprising role

In an achievement that sounds more like a storyline from Jurassic Park than real life, Colossal Biosciences has pulled off a remarkable scientific feat—resurrecting the dire wolf, a species believed to have vanished over 10,000 years ago. Known for their legendary size and strength, these creatures once roamed North America and were popularized in pop culture by HBO's Game of Thrones. Today, they are living and breathing again, thanks to the audacious vision of Colossal Biosciences.

The Dallas-based biotechnology firm, founded by Ben Lamm, has emerged as a trailblazer in de-extinction science. But Lamm is clear about their mission. “We’re not a foundation, we’re not a nonprofit, we are not an academic think tank. We are trying to actually develop products and build technologies,” he told ABC News. This is a company driven not only by innovation but by the desire to reshape the future of genetics.

The dire wolf resurrection was accomplished through cutting-edge genetic engineering. The team, led by Colossal’s chief scientist Beth Shapiro, extracted viable DNA from ancient fossils—a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. These fragments were essential for sequencing the dire wolf genome. With DNA from close relatives like the gray wolf serving as a biological base, scientists rewrote the genetic code and created embryos that were implanted into domestic dog surrogates.
In October, Romulus and Remus—the first male dire wolves—were born. They were followed by Khaleesi, a female named after the famed Game of Thrones character, in January. "I had all the confidence that this was going to work," Shapiro said, underlining the precision and optimism that fueled this historic moment.

Backing this revolutionary project are some of the world’s biggest names. From NFL legend Tom Brady to golf icon Tiger Woods, and even Hollywood stars like Paris Hilton and director Peter Jackson, Colossal’s investor roster reads like a who's who of global influence. Brady, a member of the company's cultural advisory board, shared his pride on Instagram: "So proud of the team for the hard work, passion, and countless hours that have gone into this project!!!"
The dire wolf isn’t the only animal Colossal is reviving. Earlier this year, they unveiled the “woolly mouse,” a genetically modified mouse with thick fur reminiscent of the woolly mammoth—another species the company hopes to bring back by 2028. Red wolves, currently critically endangered, were also successfully cloned by the team.
With goals to restore extinct creatures like the dodo bird and Tasmanian tiger on the horizon, Colossal Biosciences is turning science fiction into science fact. As CEO Ben Lamm put it: "This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works."
And as it turns out, the rebirth of the dire wolf may only be the beginning of a new era—where extinction is no longer forever.
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