Pushing the boundaries of modern science, Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences recently announced a controversial milestone: the birth of three pups engineered to resemble the long-extinct dire wolf. The announcement, coupled with the company’s broader “de-extinction” agenda, has sparked debate among scientists, conservationists, and curious high schoolers alike. 

Colossal claims the pups were created using gene editing techniques that mimic traits from dire wolves – large, prehistoric predators that roamed North America until their extinction over 10,000 years ago. However, critics were quick to point out that Colossal did not actually bring back dire wolves. Instead, the company edited the DNA of gray wolves to resemble dire wolves, altering fewer than two dozen genes to influence appearance and size.

“I didn’t think much of dire wolves [Colossal’s announcement], but then, they’re bringing back animals from the dead: what if they bring back animals that are dangerous, that can create a lot of destruction?” West Chicago Community High School sophomore Anthony Vasquez said. 

In reality, scientists have identified over 12 million genetic differences between dire wolves and gray wolves, making the idea of a true resurrection scientifically implausible. Wildlife experts argue Colossal’s wolves are genetically modified animals – not authentic dire wolves.

Senior Erika Vargas raised concerns about the potential consequences of such scientific experimentation.

“I don’t know much about it, but I don’t think it’s something we should be doing,” Vargas said. “We haven’t had those animals on Earth for a very long time, and it would take a lot of effort to adapt and keep both humans and animals safe.”

Colossal has framed its work as a form of “genetic rescue,” stating that its goal is to create “functional copies” of extinct species—organisms that look and act like their prehistoric counterparts, even if their genetic makeups are different.

Still, not everyone is convinced by the company’s motivations.

“I feel like nature had already selected against them,” West Chicago Community High School biology teacher Brianna Ferreiro said. “Who are we to bring them back? Just because we have the means to do something doesn’t mean we should. What is their end game – dinosaurs walking down Lake Shore Drive?”

Colossal is also working on other species, including the woolly mammoth, dodo bird, and Tasmanian tiger. According to the company, scientists have already modified mice to carry mammoth-like traits and are working on inserting mammoth genes into Asian elephants.

“Yes, it’s not like the de-extinct animals would be living like us humans,” senior Vanessa Espinoza said. “The only need for adjusting would be human interaction.”

But Ferreiro warned that even well-intentioned reintroductions can disrupt ecosystems. She pointed to the 1995 reintroduction of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which significantly altered animal populations and plant life.

“If they are doing this, I believe the animals should be kept in captivity first,” Ferreiro said. “The Yellowstone wolves are a perfect example – reintroducing a species without fully considering the consequences can throw things off balance.”

Conservation organizations, including the IUCN Species Survival Commission Canid Specialist Group have echoed these concerns. In a public statement, the group criticized Colossal’s efforts, arguing that creating “look-alike” animals distracts from real conservation work and may even harm existing species like gray wolves.

“Bringing back dire wolves is a huge accomplishment, but it is not safe,” senior Jimena Carrillo said. “And scientists thinking that bringing back the woolly mammoth is a good idea is ridiculous and very concerning.”

Cost, health concerns, and ethical considerations have also come into play—especially around the idea of cloning pets, a service that some biotech companies are beginning to offer.

“Even if we had the money, we wouldn’t do it,” Ferreiro said. “When we got him, he was carried around, played with, and loved. We know cloning would only replicate the physical side – it’s nature and nurture that determine personality.”

Vargas agreed.

“I wouldn’t want to clone my pet after they pass away,” she said. “The thought of having a cloned pet would just make me feel uncomfortable.”