![]() "Even with a fully sequenced genome, and recent breakthroughs in gene editing technologies, achieving this will not be easy," Martin adds. Otherwise, this process will take quite some time. Martin Stervander, who researches the genomics of flightless birds at the Museum, says, "This project is not aiming to resurrect the dodo as it originally was, but instead produce a hybrid lineage which resembles the dodo to a reasonable degree."Ĭolossal has said that they hope to speed this up through the development of new methods, with an emphasis on using technology to develop more efficient genetic editing techniques and automate the process. The Nicobar pigeon is the dodo's closest living relative. Using this as a guide, the team then hope to genetically modify the genome of the bird's closest living relative-the Nicobar pigeon-to make it more similar to that of the dodo's. At the time of writing, however, the genome is yet to have been published in a scientific journal. To recreate the species Colossal hopes to use a fully-sequenced dodo genome, which Shapiro announced that her team had reconstructed last year. Among the team working on the project is Professor Beth Shapiro, an expert on ancient genomics who has previously sequenced a fragment of mitochondrial DNA from a dodo specimen. Instead, Colossal is proposing to make a living replica of the species. Nothing short of a time machine would allow the species to exist today. ![]() The original species is, as the saying goes, dead as a dodo. However, as with Colossal's previous "de-extinction" announcements, the dodo project has been met with a healthy dose of skepticism. "In doing so, we'll bring conservation to the forefront of our cultural zeitgeist, bring balance back to avian species and the countless ecosystems they inhabit, and bring a little bit of magic back to Mauritius." In a video explaining the reasoning behind the project, the firm said that "through bringing back this cherished species, we will develop the knowledge base and tools required to halt the harrowing decline in our bird population." The dodo is now within its sights following the injection of a reported $150 million into the company. One of the icons of extinction could walk the Earth again, if a biotech firm has its way.Ĭolossal Biosciences first hit the headlines after announcing projects aiming to resurrect extinct species such as the wooly mammoth and thylacine. While some argue de-extinction could help to restore damaged ecosystems, others believe it is an expensive distraction from the threats facing living species.
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