Colossal Biosciences has achieved a major breakthrough in de-extinction by successfully culturing primordial germ cells from the rock dove, a critical step toward potentially resurrecting the extinct dodo bird.

Researchers are using cells from the Nicobar pigeon, a close relative of the dodo, and employing gene editing to introduce dodo traits, with plans to create a living approximation within five to seven years.

Despite skepticism, Colossal has secured significant funding, with a valuation exceeding $10 billion, attracting celebrity investors and highlighting growing interest in de-extinction technologies.

Colossal emphasizes its goal of functional restoration over exact genetic replication, aiming to reintroduce ecological roles of extinct species and support ecosystem resilience.

The company is also working on de-extinction projects for other animals such as woolly mammoths and Tasmanian tigers, leveraging CRISPR gene editing technology.

While aiming to restore extinct species, Colossal emphasizes that their focus is on creating functional, genetically modified versions that can help restore ecological roles, rather than exact replicas.

Colossal has established the Mauritius Dodo Advisory Committee to guide conservation and rewilding efforts on the island of Mauritius, highlighting cultural and ecological considerations.

CEO Ben Lamm estimates that, with this progress, the dodo could potentially be brought back within five to seven years, a timeline faster than previously expected.

This development marks a significant step forward in the field of de-extinction and genetic engineering, with broad implications for biodiversity and conservation.

Experts caution that true de-extinction is scientifically complex due to gene-environment interactions, and current efforts are more accurately described as creating genetically modified hybrids rather than fully resurrected animals.

There are concerns about ecological risks and ethical issues, with critics warning that de-extinction efforts might disrupt ecosystems and distract from urgent conservation needs.

The process involves editing Nicobar pigeon germ cells, injecting them into surrogate chickens, and breeding these to produce dodo-like birds, marking a breakthrough in avian genetic modification.

Colossal frames its work as both a scientific milestone and a tool to enhance ecosystem resilience, citing examples like the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone.