Colossal Biosciences Launches AI Tool to Aid in Dodo Bird De-Extinction Efforts

Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based company focused on de-extinction, announced the launch of its AI platform, GenoMorph, aimed at pinpointing genetic editing targets necessary for the revival of the dodo bird. Wednesday’s unveiling highlighted the software’s capability to identify approximately 2,300 candidate genetic elements related to beak morphology, despite the limited genomic data available on the extinct species.

According to Ben Lamm, the co-founder and CEO, the challenge of de-extinction is as much about data analysis as it is about biological engineering. Lamm emphasized that the platform learns from the regulatory DNA of contemporary birds, which helps to determine the genetic switches responsible for anatomical features of the dodo. With the new findings, Colossal expresses a commitment to use its research as a foundational framework for understanding the complex genetics of other extinct and endangered species.