PA Images via Getty Imagesįor investors, the “de-extinction” effort is only part of the appeal. The dodo bird has been extinct since the 17th century. Ultimately, Colossal aims to successfully reproduce the dodo and recreate a sustainable habitat for the bird in Mauritius, where it was once found.Ĭritics of the firm have expressed skepticism about the achievability of its goals, as well as the unknown variables associated with recreating a long-extinct species. Colossal has raised $225 million since its debut in September 2021. Participants in its most recent funding round included tech investor and “Jurassic World” producer Thomas Tull’s United States Innovative Technology Fund and Breyer Capital. The firm is valued at $1.5 billion after a recently closed $150 million Series B fundraising round. The firm’s goal, while unusual, has drawn a roster of notable investors that includes “Thor” star Chris Hemsworth, “Succession” actor Nicholas Braun, Paris Hilton, the CIA’s venture capital firm In-Q-Tel, and other entities. The firm eventually plans to create a safe habitat for the dodo if its plan succeeds. “Having focused on genetic advancements in ancient DNA for my entire career and as the first to fully sequence the dodo’s genome, I am thrilled to collaborate with Colossal and the people of Mauritius on the de-extinction and eventual re-wilding of the dodo,” Shapiro added. “The dodo is a prime example of a species that became extinct because we - people - made it impossible for them to survive in their native habitat,” said Beth Shapiro, Colossal Biosciences’ lead paleontologist and advisory board member.Ĭolossal’s founders say the company aims to reverse damage to the dodo’s environment and ecosystem - but its mission could have broader implications for gene editing and other fledgling technology of interest to investors. The firm’s newly formed Avian Genomics Group will lead the effort to reproduce the dodo, which Colossal said died out “as a direct result of human settlement and ecosystem competition in 1662.” We’re cousins but also genetically brothers due to this rare phenomenonĪ genetic engineering company has bold plans to “de-extinct” and “re-wild” the dodo bird - centuries after the flightless fowl waddled the planet.Ĭolossal Biosciences unveiled Tuesday its “Jurassic Park”-like goal to bring back the dodo, adding to previous pledges to resurrect two other long-extinct species - the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger. ‘DNA diet’ discovery paves the way for ‘personalized’ weight loss menuĭad’s genes make baby ‘greedy’ and ‘manipulate’ mom in the womb Gene therapy eyedrops with inactivated herpes virus restores a young boy’s sight
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