AI Accelerates De-extinction of the Dodo Bird
Colossal Biosciences uses AI to reconstruct the dodo genome and navigate complex genetic switches.
1De-extinction as Data Challenge
Colossal Biosciences is leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate the return of the dodo, an extinct flightless bird. CEO Ben Lamm emphasizes that de-extinction is fundamentally a data problem rather than purely biological. By analyzing regulatory DNA, AI identifies the specific genetic switches responsible for the dodo's unique anatomy, filling gaps left by degraded ancient samples.
2The GenoMorph AI Platform
The company developed a specialized AI platform called GenoMorph to reconstruct the dodo genome. Scientists built an atlas mapping genetic switches controlling facial development across chickens, quail, ducks, and pigeons. By comparing genomes and skull shapes from over 70 bird species, the team identified 2,350 switches critical for recreating the dodo's distinctive beak structure.
3Lessons from Dire Wolf
The dodo project builds upon successful techniques established during the 2025 dire wolf de-extinction initiative. Researchers sequenced ancient DNA to rewrite the gray wolf genome, successfully producing a puppy. This methodology demonstrated that scientific breakthroughs create scalable technology platforms, allowing researchers to apply previously developed software and analytical approaches to entirely different species programs.
4Avian Reproduction Hurdles
Unlike placental mammals, birds gestate outside the womb, necessitating a different approach for dodo revival. Researchers plan to harvest primordial germ cells from the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo's closest living relative. These cells will be edited with dodo traits and injected into domestic chicken eggs, which serve as highly accessible surrogates for the embryonic development process.
5Complexity of Genetic Switches
Recreating the dodo involves managing over 650 regulatory elements for beak size and nearly 1,700 for thickness and breadth. Because ancient DNA is fragmented, the record of these switches is imperfect. AI is essential here, as it predicts which switches must be flipped to accurately replicate the bird's physical traits from the two billion letters.
6Genome Assembly Progress
Chief science officer Beth Shapiro notes that the dodo genome assembly is remarkably complete, derived from a single well-preserved specimen. While minor holes exist in the ancient data, the current assembly is considered extraordinary by scientific standards. This high-quality data serves as the foundation for the ongoing five-year effort to bring the species back.
7Scalable Scientific Methodology
The iterative nature of Colossal's work ensures that each project informs the next. Insights gained from reading the dire wolf genome directly improved the GenoMorph platform for the dodo. This cumulative knowledge base accelerates future de-extinction efforts for other animals, including the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, the moa, and the antelope-like quagga species.
8Future of Species Revival
While the dodo currently exists as biological vaporware, the integration of AI and advanced genetic editing makes its return by the early 2030s a tangible goal. This project highlights how computational power can bridge the gap between extinct history and modern biology, potentially transforming the landscape of conservation and synthetic biology in the coming decade.
Original article: TIME — AI Accelerates De-extinction of the Dodo Bird