The year 1681 marked the last recorded sighting of the dodo, a flightless bird endemic to Mauritius that has since become a universal symbol of extinction. The dodo, once so trusting that it would approach Dutch sailors and even offer its nest, was defenseless against the perils introduced by human colonization. Within a few decades, hunting, deforestation, and invasive species brought by settlers sealed the bird’s fate, wiping it off the planet.
Now, over three centuries later, science is offering a second chance. A Texas-based biotechnology company, Colossal Biosciences, has announced plans to bring back the dodo, along with the woolly mammoth and the thylacine, by 2028. Using groundbreaking genetic engineering, the company has been reconstructing the dodo genome from DNA extracted from a skull housed at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Unlike the fictional methods in Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, this approach is rooted in cutting-edge advancements in genome sequencing and CRISPR technology, making de-extinction a real possibility.
Beth Shapiro, an evolutionary biologist and chief science officer at Colossal, emphasizes the urgency of this mission. “Our goal is to make extinction a thing of the past. With nearly half of Earth’s species threatened with extinction over the next century due to habitat loss and human activity, we need to develop new conservation tools,” she said in an interview.
The effort comes at a critical time, as a UN report titled Nature’s Dangerous Decline Unprecedented warns of accelerating species loss, and the World Animal Foundation predicts that up to half of all species could vanish by 2050. Colossal has raised $200 million to fund its projects, selecting the dodo, mammoth, and thylacine as a strategic starting point. These three animals—a bird, a land mammal, and a marsupial—represent distinct genetic challenges and lay the foundation for future de-extinction efforts.
Beyond nostalgia, resurrecting lost species carries profound ecological implications. The World Economic Forum estimates that half of global GDP depends on nature, and biodiversity loss threatens economic stability. In some ecosystems, the absence of a key species creates a ripple effect, leading to further extinctions. “By reintroducing species that played crucial roles in their environments, we could restore balance and strengthen fragile ecosystems,” Shapiro explained.
How Will Science Resurrect the Dodo?
The process begins by identifying the dodo’s closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon. Scientists will edit the Nicobar pigeon’s genome to resemble that of the dodo, using primordial germ cells—precursors to reproductive cells—modified to carry dodo-like traits. These cells will then be inserted into sterile chickens, whose offspring are expected to resemble a dodo.
Unlike mammals, where genetic modifications are made to embryos implanted in surrogates, bird de-extinction requires a different approach. “A bird egg is a single cell, and its nucleus is harder to manipulate than that of a mammal,” Colossal explains. By leveraging cutting-edge genome editing and AI-driven computational biology, scientists aim to overcome this challenge.
The Woolly Mammoth and the Thylacine: Engineering the Past into the Present
Colossal’s approach to de-extincting the woolly mammoth follows a similar method. Since the Asian elephant shares 98% of its DNA with the mammoth, scientists will edit its genome to reintroduce traits such as thick fur and fat layers suited for Arctic survival. The modified embryos will be implanted in Asian elephants, with the first mammoth births expected around 2028.
For the thylacine, the dunnart—a tiny marsupial—is the closest living relative. Scientists face the challenge of scaling up this small animal’s biology to recreate a wolf-sized marsupial predator. Surrogate technology and genome engineering will be key to this effort.
Ethical and Scientific Challenges of De-Extinction
Despite the excitement, not everyone in the scientific community is convinced. Many of Colossal’s findings have yet to be peer-reviewed, and some experts worry about the unforeseen consequences of reintroducing extinct species into modern ecosystems. Others question whether funding de-extinction is the best use of resources when so many endangered species still need protection.
Shapiro acknowledges these concerns. “The primary goal isn’t just to bring back extinct species, but to develop tools to prevent future extinctions. If we can use this science to bolster conservation efforts, then the impact could be far greater than just seeing a dodo or mammoth alive again.”
While the prospect of resurrecting lost species once seemed like science fiction, Colossal’s work suggests that by 2028, the world may witness the return of creatures long thought lost. If successful, this endeavor could redefine conservation, offering hope that extinction may not always be forever.
