Interest in bringing back extinct animals has rapidly intensified, but the logistics behind such efforts have long challenged scientists. Colossal Biosciences is taking concrete strides toward the ambitious goal of restoring the dodo, using novel genetic engineering methods. The recent progress brings the realities of de-extinction into sharper focus for researchers and conservationists alike, raising important questions about the goals and implications of reviving species that vanished centuries ago.
Earlier efforts to revive extinct species often revolved around DNA recovery and restoration for mammals like mammoths and tigers, with limited direct advances in avian genetics. Few companies have attracted as much investor support or ventured as far into avian de-extinction as Colossal Biosciences. Comparisons to earlier research show this recent step represents a shift, as previous attempts were restricted to cloning within limited bird categories, without breakthroughs in primordial germ cell culture outside widely studied species.
What New Step Has Colossal Made in Bird Genetics?
Colossal Biosciences, headquartered in Texas, reported a successful cultivation of pigeon primordial germ cells, an important cell type capable of forming either eggs or sperm in birds. This development builds a foundation for integrating ancient dodo genes, aimed at producing living birds with dodo-like characteristics. CEO Ben Lamm commented,
“Our avian team’s breakthrough in deriving culture conditions that allow pigeon primordial germ cells to survive long-term is a significant advancement for dodo de-extinction.”
How Does the Company Plan to Revive the Dodo?
Traditional cloning does not work for birds as it does for mammals. Instead, Colossal proposes to edit the DNA of these primordial germ cells using characteristics from ancient dodo DNA and then introduce them to related species, such as the Nicobar pigeon. In theory, the method could allow existing birds to lay eggs of successfully engineered dodo descendants.
Who Supports the Project and How Will It Be Overseen?
Colossal’s work is financially supported by major investors and recently expanded its funding pool to reach a company valuation of over $10 billion. To oversee the conservation aspects and possible future rewilding activities, a Mauritius Dodo Advisory Committee was formed, comprising community, government, and scientific leaders. Committee chair Devina Lobine stated,
“This journey is more than reviving a lost species—it is about honoring our island’s unique heritage.”
Colossal’s ambitions extend far beyond the dodo. The company is pursuing genetic projects to reintroduce species such as the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger, and it recently partnered on a project to restore the extinct New Zealand moa. The firm has demonstrated proof-of-concept experiments, including the creation of a genetically engineered “woolly mouse” and dire wolf trait transfer attempts in wolves, to support their methodologies’ effectiveness for both extinct and endangered animals.
The company emphasizes that its genetic advances may serve immediate conservation needs, well beyond long-term de-extinction efforts. These new pigeon germ cell cultures could become tools for the preservation of endangered bird species, such as the Mauritian pink pigeon, by enabling advanced genetic rescue and biobanking. Developing technologies for manipulating avian genetics represents a significant scientific effort, providing broader options for conservation but also prompting careful ethical and ecological consideration. Those interested in biodiversity restoration should note the complexities involved, including the nuances of community involvement, ecosystem adaptation, and long-term stewardship as these projects progress.
