Colossal Biosciences Cultivates Pigeon Cells for Dodo De-Extinction Program

Colossal Biosciences, the Texas-based biotechnology firm founded in 2021 by George Church and Ben Lamm, has announced a significant technical advance in its initiative to potentially resurrect the Dodo bird, extinct for over three centuries. The core achievement involves the first successful culture of primordial germ cells (PGCs) from the Nicobar pigeon, the Dodo's closest living relative, establishing a critical pathway for developing the resurrected avian species.

This cellular success is vital because the Nicobar pigeon provides the necessary genomic blueprint for the project. The company’s Avian Genetics Group maintains a breeding colony of these pigeons in Texas to support the research. Furthermore, Colossal has engineered a flock of chickens to potentially serve as surrogate hosts for the modified cells, extending PGC culture viability beyond previous limitations, which were largely confined to chickens and geese until this new pigeon protocol was established.

Anna Keyte, Avian Species Director, noted that prior attempts using established chicken PGC protocols had failed with other bird species, underscoring the importance of the new pigeon methodology. Dr. Beth Shapiro, Chief Scientific Officer, emphasized that this PGC culture milestone is significant for both the Dodo project and the broader field of avian conservation. The intended methodology involves introducing Dodo-trait-modified PGCs into developing chicken embryos, with the long-term goal of subsequent generations expressing the extinct bird’s characteristics.

To achieve this, the avian team tested more than 300 combinations of growth factors, small molecules, and metabolites, resulting in a pigeon PGC culture that has sustained growth for over two months with a doubling rate of 35 hours. CEO Ben Lamm projects that tangible results from this specific breakthrough could appear within five to seven years. Colossal Biosciences, which also pursues the de-extinction of the Woolly Mammoth and the Tasmanian Tiger, has secured over $555 million in funding since its September 2021 inception, achieving a valuation of $10.32 billion following a recent $120 million expansion.

Addressing the logistical and societal dimensions, Colossal established the Mauritius Dodo Advisory Committee, comprising local cultural, commercial, government, and community leaders, which meets quarterly to guide local conservation strategies and rewilding program development. Dr. Devina Lobine, Research Officer at the Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology and Chair of the committee, frames the effort as honoring heritage alongside species revival. Critics continue to raise ethical concerns regarding the welfare of genetically engineered animals and the viability of reintroduction environments still subject to historical threats like invasive predators.