Business · India Bureau
US biotech firm charts path to resurrect extinct dodo bird
A US-based biotechnology company has mapped 95 per cent of the dodo genome and identified genetic targets for potential resurrection using advanced gene-editing techniques. The project represents an ambitious attempt to reverse human-caused species extinction through cutting-edge molecular biology.
LSN India ·
Colossal Biosciences has announced significant progress in its efforts to bring back the dodo, the flightless bird that vanished from Mauritius over three centuries ago. The company has completed analysis of 95 per cent of the extinct species' genetic code, using sophisticated artificial intelligence platforms to identify critical genetic traits essential for reconstruction.
The biotech firm's approach leverages an AI system called GenoMorph to sift through genomic data and pinpoint the specific genes required to recreate the bird's biological characteristics. This computational framework enables researchers to determine which genetic modifications would be necessary to transform a living bird into one resembling the historical dodo.
While the genome mapping represents a major scientific milestone, Colossal Biosciences has not disclosed a timeline for producing a living dodo or provided details about which modern bird species might serve as a genetic base for the project. The company views the initiative as part of a broader effort to combat extinction caused by human activity, suggesting potential applications for other endangered or disappeared species.
The dodo became extinct in the 17th century following European colonisation of Mauritius, with populations decimated by hunting and habitat destruction. Modern extinction reversal efforts remain experimental, and significant technical and biological hurdles remain before any such project could produce a viable organism.