Already spoke about Dire wolf last week
Dire wolf brought back from extinction after 13,000 years
Now it's time to talk about Dodo and few others
The Dodo Is Coming Back! Followed by Other Species That Have Vanished
Scientists are on the verge of resurrecting long-extinct species like the dodo and woolly mammoth. Genetic engineering is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in de-extinction.
In a bold and ambitious attempt to reverse extinction, Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based de-extinction company, is spearheading efforts to bring back iconic species that once roamed the Earth.
The team is focusing on the dodo, the woolly mammoth, and the thylacine—a project that could redefine what we know about extinction and conservation. Using cutting-edge technology and genetic engineering, these extinct species may soon be walking the Earth again, and the timeline for their return is fast approaching.
The Dodo’s Revival: Bringing Back the Flightless Bird
The dodo, a flightless bird native to Mauritius, became extinct in 1681. It is often used as a symbol for extinction due to its quick demise following human arrival. The bird was particularly vulnerable because it had no natural predators and displayed little fear of humans, making it easy prey for sailors and introduced animals.Now, over 300 years later, Colossal Biosciences is working on resurrecting this long-lost species. The company is using DNA extracted from a preserved skull in the Natural History Museum of Denmark to sequence the dodo genome.
The goal is to have the dodo back by 2028. To achieve this, the team is using modern genetic techniques, including gene editing tools like CRISPR. The closest living relative to the dodo is the Nicobar pigeon, and its genetic makeup is being manipulated to reflect the dodo’s traits.
In a surprising twist, Colossal plans to use chickens as surrogates to hatch dodo-like offspring, with the hope that these birds will grow up with reproductive cells that carry the dodo’s characteristics.
A Dodo skeleton is seen in 1938 opposite a reconstructed model of the extinct bird in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. Becker/Fox Photos/Getty Images
The Woolly Mammoth: Engineering a Giant
Among the most talked-about species in the de-extinction movement is the woolly mammoth, a creature that once roamed the northern parts of the Earth. Thanks to its close genetic relationship with the Asian elephant (which shares about 98% of the same DNA), scientists at Colossal are working on reviving the mammoth by editing the remaining 2% of the mammoth’s genes.This mammoth-like elephant is expected to have characteristic features such as fuzzy fur and blubber to survive cold climates. The timeline for a mammoth embryo is set for late 2026, with the first animals possibly being born by 2028.
The process involves extracting Asian elephant cells, genetically modifying them to carry the mammoth’s genes, and then using somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) to implant the modified cells into an Asian elephant’s egg.
Once the embryo develops, the mammoth-ized elephant would be born, likely looking and acting much like the extinct mammoth.
A mammoth skeleton is seen on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City in January 2023. Mary Altaffer/AP
The Thylacine: Reviving an Iconic Marsupial
Another major project is the revival of the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, which went extinct in the early 20th century. The thylacine was a carnivorous marsupial native to Australia and Tasmania, with distinctive stripes on its back.Colossal Biosciences is working to bring back this iconic species by using the dunnart, a small marsupial mouse, as the closest living relative. This poses significant challenges, as the thylacine was much larger and more carnivorous than the tiny dunnart.
The process of creating a thylacine will involve modifying the genetic code of the dunnart to develop the physical characteristics of its extinct ancestor. This includes changes to its size, jaw structure, and striped fur.
A Tasmanian tiger, also known as a thylacine, is seen in captivity, circa 1930. Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
However, this process raises additional questions about the ethical and ecological consequences of bringing such a creature back into the wild. Colossal’s work also involves overcoming technical obstacles related to gestation periods.
While the mammoth will take 22 months to gestate in an elephant, scientists are experimenting with faster breeding cycles using smaller animals, like mice, to test gene-editing techniques. Despite the challenges, the team is confident that they can achieve success with this novel approach to de-extinction.
