Colossal has take another big step toward bringing back the Dodo

Colossal Biosciences, a healthtech genetics company, has made significant strides toward its goal of bringing back the Dodo, an extinct flightless bird once endemic to Mauritius. The company, founded in 2021, plans to create a 'functional' Dodo by editing the genomes of living relatives, specifically pigeons.

The challenge lies in the limited genetic material available for the Dodo. Colossal currently has access to only one Dodo genome sample, necessitating the use of AI technology to identify the specific genomic regions responsible for Dodo traits. To achieve this, the company developed an AI tool called GenoMorph, which analyzes DNA from various species and predicts which sections are likely to be linked to specific traits like a beak or feathers.

Through GenoMorph, Colossal has narrowed down the list of DNA targets to 2,300 regions. The company also employs lipid nanoparticles to conduct genomic editing within an egg, marking a first for this approach. This strategy involves creating a 'functional' Dodo by filling in the genetic sequence of a pigeon with Dodo-associated traits.

While this approach may not constitute a complete genetic resurrection of the Dodo, it represents a more nuanced method of recreating the bird's essential characteristics. Colossal's Chief Science Officer, Beth Shapiro, emphasizes that defining species can be a subjective matter, and her company's work does not necessarily challenge the concept of species distinctiveness.

The company's progress in bringing back the Dodo, announced on Wednesday, marks a significant step forward in their ambitious mission to regenerate other extinct animals, such as the mammoth, the thylacine, and the giant Moa.