Colossal Biosciences Plans to De-Extinct the Dodo

The dodo bird has been the poster child for extinction since the late 17th century, but a Dallas-based biotechnology company intends to change that. Colossal Biosciences, known for its ambitious projects to revive the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger, has officially announced the dodo as its third “de-extinction” target. Backed by a fresh $150 million in Series B funding, the company is using advanced gene-editing technology to return the flightless bird to its native home in Mauritius.

The Science Behind the Resurrection

Colossal isn’t simply cloning a dodo. Cloning requires a living cell, which does not exist for the dodo. Instead, the company is using a method that involves editing the genome of the dodo’s closest living relative to create a functional proxy of the extinct bird.

The Nicobar Pigeon Connection

The genetic blueprint for this project relies on the Nicobar pigeon. This vibrant, multi-colored bird found in Southeast Asia shares the most DNA with the dodo. Scientists at Colossal plan to sequence the genome of the Nicobar pigeon and compare it with ancient DNA fragments recovered from dodo remains.

By identifying the specific genes that made a dodo a dodo (such as those for flightlessness, body size, and beak shape), researchers can use CRISPR gene-editing technology to modify the Nicobar pigeon’s cells. The goal is to tweak the pigeon’s genome until it physically and behaviorally resembles the extinct bird.

Overcoming Avian Biology Challenges

Reviving a bird is significantly harder than reviving a mammal like the woolly mammoth. In mammals, scientists can implant a modified embryo into a surrogate mother. Birds, however, lay eggs. The embryo develops inside a hard shell, making access difficult.

To solve this, Colossal is focusing on Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs). These are the cells that eventually become sperm or eggs. The process involves:

1. Extracting PGCs from a host bird species.
2. Editing these cells in a lab to carry dodo DNA traits.
3. Injecting the edited cells back into a surrogate host egg.
4. When that surrogate hatches and matures, it will produce sperm or eggs that carry the dodo genetic code, eventually producing dodo offspring.

Key Players and Funding

This ambitious project is not a solo endeavor. It involves high-profile scientists and massive financial backing.

• Beth Shapiro: The project is spearheaded by Beth Shapiro, a lead paleogeneticist at Colossal and a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Shapiro is a world-renowned expert on the dodo and famously extracted DNA from a specimen at the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen. She serves as a lead scientific advisor for the Avian Genomics Group within Colossal.
• Ben Lamm: As the CEO and co-founder of Colossal, Lamm focuses on the business and operational scale of the project. The company has raised over $225 million in total funding, valuing the startup at roughly $1.5 billion.
• The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation: Colossal has partnered with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation to ensure the project isn’t just a lab experiment. This partnership focuses on preparing the habitat in Mauritius for the eventual release of the birds.

Why Bring Back the Dodo?

Critics often ask why millions of dollars should be spent on a dead bird rather than saving living species. Colossal argues that the technology developed during this process acts as a “moonshot” for conservation.

Restoring an Ecosystem

The dodo was a keystone species in Mauritius. It ate large seeds and fruits, aiding in the dispersal and germination of local plant life. Since the bird’s extinction in 1681, the ecosystem has suffered. Returning the dodo could help restore the natural balance of the island’s flora.

Tools for Modern Conservation

The techniques Colossal is developing to edit avian genomes can be applied to birds that are currently endangered. For example, the “gene drive” and PGC technology could be used to help birds develop resistance to avian malaria or to rescue species with low genetic diversity (a bottleneck) from going extinct. The goal is to build a toolkit for conservationists to use on existing wildlife.

The Timeline and Reality

Colossal has not set a concrete release date for the first dodo calf. The company previously stated they hope to have woolly mammoth calves by 2028, but the dodo presents unique biological hurdles that could push its timeline further.

It is also important to note that the resulting animal will not be a 100% genetic replica of the original Raphus cucullatus. It will be a hybrid animal—a Nicobar pigeon edited to possess the physical and functional traits of a dodo. However, for the purposes of ecological restoration, the animal will function exactly as a dodo did.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the dodo be brought back? Colossal Biosciences has not released a specific date for the birth of the first dodo. Given the complexity of avian gene editing, it will likely take several years of research before a viable embryo is produced.

Is it possible to clone a dodo? No. Cloning requires a living cell with an intact nucleus. Since the dodo has been extinct since the 17th century, no such cells exist. Colossal is using gene editing (CRISPR) to engineer a new bird based on dodo DNA, rather than cloning one.

Where will the dodos live? The plan is to reintroduce them to their native habitat in Mauritius. Colossal is working with the Mauritian government and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation to prepare a safe environment free from the predators that originally drove them to extinction.

Why did the dodo go extinct? The dodo lived in isolation on Mauritius and had no natural predators, which made it fearless and flightless. When Dutch sailors arrived in the late 1500s, they brought invasive species like rats, pigs, and monkeys that ate the dodo’s eggs. Humans also hunted them, leading to their rapid extinction by 1681.