Science Plays God

When the movie Jurassic Park was first released in 1993, moviegoers reveled in the idea that science could resurrect the dinosaurs. Most, however, understood that the idea of recreating dinosaurs from fossilized DNA was far-fetched. Fast-forward 30 years, and that once far-fetched idea is becoming reality! 

The Austin, Texas, firm Colossal Biosciences has set its sights on the “de-extinction” of animals they deem to have had a beneficial impact on the biosphere. To accomplish this, scientists are using advanced gene-editing technology to modify the DNA of existing species (DW, April 8, 2025). In their first public attempt, scientists took recaptured DNA from a tooth and an ear bone of dire wolf specimens housed in museums. They then edited the genetic code of the gray wolf to better match that of the extinct wolf species, making just 20 changes across 14 genes. The fertilized embryos were then placed into surrogate hounds, and 62 days later the world saw the birth of “dire wolf” pups for the first time in several millennia. The company warns that they do not know how long the pups will live because this is a genetic experiment. But to date, Romulus and Remus, along with their younger sister Khaleesi, are growing large quickly. They “will be larger and more muscular than related modern gray wolves if and when they reach adulthood.” The company is now working on the “de-extinction” of the woolly mammoth and plans to have a live baby by 2028. It hopes to use its technology to help reverse man-made extinctions brought about over the past couple of centuries.

The work of Colossal Biosciences is exciting yet sobering. When humans gain the power to re-create extinct creatures—and even create new creatures—by rewriting genetic code, what could come next? What must man think of himself when he can bring about such fantastic accomplishments? And who decides what lines can or cannot be crossed? There were reasons why God chose to confuse human language at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:5–9). Seeking to play God without the wisdom of God is a dangerous game. To learn more about the Creator of science, read “God and the Foundation of Science.”