US company announces progress toward resurrecting the extinct dodo

Dallas-based biotech firm Colossal Biosciences has disclosed significant advancements in its quest to resurrect the extinct dodo bird, a large flightless species with a distinctive hooked beak native to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The company claims it has employed a cutting-edge AI platform, GenoMorph, to pinpoint genetic modifications that may underpin the dodo's unique craniofacial features.

By inserting these genetic traits into the cells of its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon, Colossal aims to breathe life back into the dodo.

Colossal's CEO and co-founder, Ben Lamm, expressed optimism about the progress, stating that the company is in the final stages of its dodo genome analysis, which is now 95% complete. Moreover, the firm has achieved a milestone that could expedite the testing of genetic edits, enabling researchers to determine if a modification yields the desired trait more swiftly.

The dodo, a symbol of human-induced extinction, vanished within decades of the arrival of humans on Mauritius in the 17th century. It was largely decimated due to the introduction of invasive species like rats, brought by the settlers, along with overhunting. Colossal's objective is not only to resurrect the dodo but also to demonstrate that extinction need not be irreversible.

The company is in the process of expanding its Nicobar pigeon population to 36 birds at its Texas facility, facilitating research on their development, reproduction, and genetics. Colossal is also collaborating with Mauritian scientists, conservation groups, and the government to prepare the island for the return of the dodo, including the removal of invasive predators and habitat restoration.

While the timeline for hatching a dodo remains uncertain, Colossal remains committed to reintroducing these iconic birds to their native habitat in Mauritius once the necessary ecological preparations and community consultations are complete.