A “de-extinction” company has revealed it has made a “pivotal step” in reviving the long-extinct dodo bird. Colossal Biosciences revealed it successfully grew pigeon primordial germ cells, the precursor cells to sperm and eggs. “Our goal is to make enough dodos with enough genetic diversity engineered into them that we can put them back into the wild where they can truly thrive,” said Chief Executive Ben Lamm. “We’re not looking to make two dodos, we’re looking to make thousands.” The flightless bird went extinct in the 17th century, but it has become relevant as a symbol of extinction. The company is using CRISPR gene-editing technology, developing gene-edited chickens to act as surrogates for the dodos. Not everyone is on board with the revival. Biologist Rich Grenyer from the University of Oxford called de-extinction plans a “dangerous” distraction that results in a “simulation.” “By labelling genetically engineered modern species as extinct ones brought back from the dead...it’s a huge moral hazard; a massive enabler for the activities that causes species to go extinct in the first place,” he said. The company has previously made headlines for attempting to revive other extinct species like the woolly mammoth and dire wolf.
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