Texas firm achieves significant advancement in bringing back the dodo bird.

Dodo Bird Revitalization Efforts Take Significant Steps

Scientists from a Texas-based company have made a significant advancement in efforts to bring dodo birds back to life, nearly 300 years after they went extinct.

On Wednesday, Giant Biology announced a breakthrough in successfully creating primitive germ cells from pigeons, which are essentially precursors for sperm and egg cells. This marks a first for the research team.

Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal, commented on this achievement in a press release: “This progress in developing conditions that allow our team to cultivate these cells long-term is a pivotal step in dodo revival.”

Lamm further noted that this investment in biotechnological advancements reflects Colossal’s commitment to fostering new discoveries and tools for conservation.

The genetic work being conducted is seen as essential for potentially bringing back the flightless dodo, which was last seen on Mauritius Island in 1662, an emblematic case of extinction.

Ana Keyte, another scientist involved, mentioned that the original protocol for cell culture was designed for chicken primitive germ cells and dates back nearly two decades. However, it didn’t yield results for other bird species, even those closely related like quail. Colossal’s findings related to pigeons significantly expand the possibilities for avian reproductive technologies and set the groundwork for dodo research.

Colossal has the backing of notable investors, including actors Chris Hemsworth and Paris Hilton, and seeks to raise an additional $120 million to further its goals of reviving not just dodos but several other long-extinct species.

Among the species on Colossal’s radar are the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dire wolves—efforts that have also attracted attention from filmmaker Peter Jackson, who has partnered with the company to revive the South Island giant moa.