Colossal Biosciences has successfully hatched live chicks from artificial eggs, marking a significant step towards the potential revival of extinct bird species like the dodo.
A Texas-based biotechnology company, Colossal Biosciences, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by hatching live chicks from artificial eggs for the first time. This innovative development could pave the way for the revival of extinct birds, including the dodo and the giant moa.
Colossal Biosciences engineered a reusable titanium egg lined with a bioengineered membrane that replicates the oxygen transfer characteristics of a natural eggshell. Utilizing this technology, scientists successfully hatched 26 healthy chicks while meticulously monitoring their development from embryo to birth, as reported by The New York Post.
“We didn’t just copy nature,” said Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences. “We tried to re-engineer it.”
The chicks will remain at the company’s avian facility for their entire lives, according to Lamm. Researchers believe that this technology could enhance hatch rates for endangered bird species and support Colossal’s broader mission of resurrecting extinct species.
The giant moa, a massive flightless bird that once inhabited New Zealand, is one of the species the company aims to revive. This bird could weigh up to 500 pounds before it was hunted to extinction centuries ago.
The artificial egg developed by Colossal is compatible with standard incubators and has the potential to support eggs as large as those laid by moa birds. Before scaling the technology further, the company plans to conduct additional testing using emu and ostrich eggs, as reported by The New York Post.
Colossal is pursuing its moa revival project in collaboration with New Zealand’s Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and filmmaker Peter Jackson, who is also an investor in the company. Lamm expressed optimism about the timeline for these projects, stating that the moa could be brought back by the early 2030s, while the dodo might be revived within four to five years.
“The avian reproductive toolkit has lagged behind mammalian systems for decades because birds present unique developmental challenges,” said Dr. Beth Shapiro, chief science officer of Colossal. “The artificial egg changes that.”
This breakthrough not only represents a significant advancement in avian reproductive technology but also opens new avenues for conservation efforts aimed at protecting endangered species and potentially resurrecting those lost to extinction.
As the field of de-extinction continues to evolve, Colossal Biosciences stands at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of avian biology and conservation, according to The New York Post.