Texas Company Takes Bold Steps To Bring Back The Dodo Bird

A Texas company may be on the verge of bringing back the dodo!

Colossal Biosciences Makes a Major Breakthrough

300 years after it went extinct, scientists at Texas-based Colossal Biosciences say they may be close to bringing back the dodo bird. They still have a long, long way to go, but according to Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm, Colossal has successfully grown pigeon primordial germ cells. These are the cells that eventually become sperm and eggs.

Trial and Error Eventually Led to the Dodo Breakthrough

The company’s Avian Genetic Group says what may seem like a small step will play a pivotal role in bringing back the flightless bird that disappeared in 1662. Anna Keyte, Avian Species Director, says both chickens and quail were used in tests, but pigeons turned out to be the key piece of the puzzle.

Fundraising Efforts Are Underway to Continue the De-Extinction Work

Colossal is currently working to raise 120 million dollars to continue its work with the de-extinction of the DoDo. In July, Colossal announced plan to partner with “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson to bring back the South Island Giant Moa. Other animals on Colossal’s de-extinction list are the woolly mammoth, and the Tasmanian tiger.

Colossal Finds Success with Dire Wolves

In April of this year, Colossal announced that it revived the 13,000-year-extinct “dire wolf”. The task involved mixing ancient DNA harvested from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull with DNA from a gray wolf. Over 10 thousand years ago, the dire wolf could be found in the Americas, south to Venezuela and north to Canada. Many dire wolf remains have been discovered across the Americas, which aided Colossal Biosciences with its task. Colossal has previously projected that they would have the ability to produce woolly mammoth calves by the year 2028.