Dr. George Church isn’t only a scientist—he’s one of the 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 every thing 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 greatest identified for his pioneering work in genome sequencing, gene enhancing—significantly CRISPR—and artificial biology.
Considered one of his most exceptional accomplishments is his long-standing function 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 all Time journal’s 100 most influential folks on the 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 initiatives embrace efforts to convey again the woolly mammoth, dire wolf, northern white rhinoceros, Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo chook.
What Is a Dire Wolf?
The dire wolf (Canis dirus) was a prehistoric predator that roamed North and South America in the course of the Pleistocene Epoch earlier than going extinct round 10,000 years in the past. Bigger and extra sturdy than at this time’s grey wolves, dire wolves had been identified for his or her highly effective construct.
Whereas they gained popular culture fame by means of reveals like Recreation of Thrones, the real-life animals had been fairly completely different from their fictional counterparts. In accordance 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 now 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 staff took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old cranium and made wholesome dire wolf puppies,” mentioned Colossal CEO and co-founder Lamm in a assertion. “It was as soon as mentioned, ‘any sufficiently superior expertise is indistinguishable from magic.’ Right this moment, our staff will get to unveil a number of the magic they’re engaged on and its broader impression 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 had been introduced again from extinction utilizing… pic.twitter.com/wY4rdOVFRH
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) April 7, 2025
