Colossal Biosciences has an undeniable knack for communication. A few weeks ago, the American start-up showcased mice with abundant fur, presented as a step toward the resurrection of the woolly mammoth. On Monday, April 7, it announced the birth of three wolf pups described as reincarnations of the dire wolf (Canis dirus), a species of canine that disappeared from the American continent about 13,000 years ago.

According to their claims, the biologists at Colossal Biosciences managed to "make extinction a thing of the past" for an animal that had achieved an almost mythical status thanks to the series Game of Thrones. The series creator, George RR Martin, revealed on his blog that he had been in the know for several months, as an investor and "cultural adviser" to the Texas company. He poses in a photo with one of the two male pups, Remus or Romulus, "difficult to distinguish." The only female, Khaleesi, has been given the name of a protagonist from the series.

Many scientific observers pointrf out that these are not actually dire wolves, but gray wolves (Canis lupus), with a few genes modified to give them characteristics of the extinct species: a lighter coat, a stature that is 25% larger, and notably, a thick mane.

You have 71.18% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.