Colossal says AI has identified possible dodo gene-editing targets

Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences said Wednesday that it had used a newly developed AI platform to identify genetic changes that may account for the dodo's distinctive skull and facial features, advancing its search for gene-editing targets.

The company plans to introduce dodo traits into cells of the Nicobar pigeon, the extinct bird's closest living relative. The pigeon lives on some Southeast Asian islands and, unlike the dodo, can fly.

Beth Shapiro, Colossal's chief science officer, said GenoMorph identifies likely gene-editing targets for species with little surviving DNA. Scientists normally compare multiple genomes from the same species to identify genes behind a trait, but cannot do that with the dodo, she said.

Colossal said its dodo genome was now 95% filled and its analysis was nearing completion. It also announced an advance intended to shorten testing of whether an edit produces a desired trait, but gave no timeframe for hatching a dodo.

Lamm said major hurdles remained: establishing which genetic changes matter, making many edits in a bird, transmitting them to the next generation and preparing a safe home for dodos on Mauritius.