Move over, Netflix true crime documentaries – science just dropped something way more wild. A group of tech-savvy genetic engineers are basically pulling a prehistoric reverse-Tinder, swiping right on extinct dire wolf DNA to create modern-day wolf puppies that look like they stepped straight out of a fantasy novel.

Genetic Time Travel, Bay Area Style

Colossal Biosciences, the mad scientists behind this fur-raising experiment, have successfully bred three genetically modified wolf pups that bear an uncanny resemblance to their long-lost dire wolf ancestors. Using CRISPR technology (because of course Silicon Valley would be involved), they’ve essentially Frankensteined these pups by splicing gray wolf blood cells with specific genetic markers from 13,000-year-old fossils.

Not Quite Jurassic Park, But Close

These aren’t your average puppers. Weighing around 80 pounds and projected to reach a whopping 140 pounds, these white-haired wolves look like they could star in their own epic fantasy series. But don’t get too excited about a prehistoric wolf comeback tour – scientists caution that these pups are more of a genetic cosplay than a true species resurrection.

The Tech Behind the Magic

Using blood from living gray wolves and some seriously complex genetic engineering, the team transferred modified embryos into domestic dog surrogates. The result? Wolf pups that look like they could have been hunting mammoths alongside our ancient ancestors. While they might look fierce, they’re missing crucial survival skills that their extinct relatives once possessed.

So Bay Area tech nerds, next time you’re complaining about your startup’s pivot, remember: some scientists are literally bringing extinct species back to life. Talk about a power move.