Or ‘just’ a genetically engineered wolf?
According to a number of published studies and filed patent applications, the US company Colossal Biosciences, wants to ‘bring back to life’ extinct vertebrates, such as woolly mammoths, dire wolves, dodos and Tasmanian tigers. However, what the company is in reality trying to create are genetically engineered versions of existing wild life species, e.g. Asian elephants, grey wolves, South American running birds and marsupial mice (Testbiotech, 2026b). The intended effects largely depend on
changes in gene regulation (as is the case with many NGT plants) and do not necessarily include the insertion of additional genes. Studies published so far indicate that the resulting NGT animals exhibit genetic changes previously unknown in these species (Chen et al., 2025).
Interestingly, the number and types of genetic changes introduced to create a genetically engineered ‘dire wolf’ appear to be within the proposed EU threshold for fast-track release and market approval of NGT plants. This comparison with NGT animals exemplifies the huge potential of even just a limited number of small genetic changes.
If genetically engineered wildlife, such as the ‘dire wolf’, were to escape into natural populations of grey wolves, it is possible that they could reproduce. As these animals are larger and stronger than their natural counterparts, the genetically engineered grey wolves and their offspring would have a fitness advantage, and thus be capable of displacing natural populations. Significant consequences would ensue – not only for the protected wolf species, but also for ecosystems, and possibly humans if the genetic changes resulted in changed hunting behaviour.
As there is currently no proposal for a deregulation regrading NGT animals in the EU, it is not clear if the NGT wolves described would require mandatory risk assessment in future.
Publication date / last update
February 2026
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