Reviving the Past: Colossal Biosciences Makes Breakthrough in Bringing Back the Dodo
Extinction is often considered a permanent state, but Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based startup, is challenging this notion. The company has made significant strides in reviving long-lost species through genetic engineering, with a primary focus on bringing back the dodo, a flightless bird that went extinct in the 17th century. Recently, Colossal announced a crucial step towards achieving this goal, successfully growing pigeon primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors of sperm and eggs in birds.
A rendering of the dodo, one of the extinct species Colossal Biosciences is attempting to bring back. Courtesy Colossal Biosciences
Advancements and Funding
Colossal’s breakthrough in deriving culture conditions that allow pigeon primordial germ cells to survive long-term is a significant advancement for dodo de-extinction. This achievement has drawn substantial funding, with the company raising $200 million in a Series C round led by TWG Global, followed by an extension of $120 million. New investors include the U.S. Innovative Technology Fund, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, and investor Bob Nelson, bringing Colossal’s valuation to over $10.3 billion.
Bird de-extinction poses unique challenges, as birds cannot be cloned through somatic cell nuclear transfer like mammals. Instead, Colossal plans to use the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative, to create edited PGCs that can be injected into chick embryos. This approach could potentially lead to a chicken laying the egg of a pigeon, a dodo relative, and eventually a dodo itself.
Conservation Efforts and Collaborations
A look at Colossal’s pigeon primordial germ cells. Courtesy Colossal Biosciences
To oversee future conservation work and a planned dodo rewilding program, Colossal has formed the Mauritius Dodo Advisory Committee, comprising cultural, commercial, government, and community leaders. This collaboration aims to honor the island’s unique heritage and ensure responsible conservation practices.
Broader Implications and Future Projects
Colossal’s research has immediate conservation value, as culturing PGCs could help protect endangered birds like the Mauritian pink pigeon. The company is also working on other high-profile projects, including the revival of the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger. More recently, Colossal added the moa, a 12-foot-tall flightless bird native to New Zealand, to its list of target species.
Read more about Colossal Biosciences’ efforts to revive the dodo and other extinct species Here
Image Source: observer.com
