Un-dead as a dodo

De-extinction firm 'step closer' to resurrecting bird

- Oliver Milman

Since its demise in the 17th century, the flightless dodo has long been synonymous with extinction.

But thousands of dodos could soon again populate Mauritius, the species' former home, according to a “de-extinction” company that has announced a major breakthrough in its quest to resurrect the bird.

Colossal Biosciences said yesterday that it had succeeded in growing pigeon primordial germ cells, precursor cells to sperm and eggs, for the first time. This is a “pivotal step” in bringing back the dodo, which was a type of pigeon, for the first time in more than 300 years, according to Colossal.

The Texas-based firm, which has made headlines for its plans to reestablish woolly mammoths and dire wolves, said it had also developed gene-edited chickens that would act as surrogates for the dodos. It said the chickens would be injected with primordial germ cells from Nicobar pigeons, the closest living relatives of dodos, which would - after gene edits to recreate the desired body and head shape - let them breed dodos.

“Rough ballpark, we think it’s still five to seven years out, but it’s not 20 years out,” said Ben Lamm, chief executive of Colossal. It is working with wildlife groups to find rat-free sites in Mauritius where dodos may safely roam again.