Colossal Biosciences Launches GenoMorph AI for Dodo De-Extinction

Colossal Biosciences announced Wednesday the launch of GenoMorph, a new artificial intelligence platform designed to accelerate its efforts to bring back extinct species. The company stated that the platform uses advanced 3D morphology, comparative genomics, and developmental biology to identify genes that could be edited in projects where genetic data is scarce. Colossal is applying the tool to its dodo bird de-extinction project, which faces significant data limitations compared to its woolly mammoth initiative.

Addressing Limited Genomic Data

The primary challenge for the dodo project is the scarcity of complete genomes. According to the company, it is working with only one dodo genome, whereas it has obtained 100 genomes for the woolly mammoth project. Colossal explained that DNA from the woolly mammoth is more plentiful because the colder climates the animal inhabited preserved the DNA better than the tropical environments where the dodo lived.

"Normally, scientists can compare many genomes to understand which genetic differences are responsible for certain traits," Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm told TechCrunch. "We don't have that luxury with ancient DNA from extinct species whose DNA is severely limited, and we can only get a small number of complete genomes."

To build GenoMorph, Lamm said the company collected developmental data from "chickens, quail, ducks, and pigeons," and combined it with "genetic information and 3D skull measurements from more than 70 bird species." He noted that it took more than a year of work to build the platform. The AI learns which regions of DNA are active as different birds develop their beaks and facial structures, using that information to predict which genetic switches may have given the dodo its iconic appearance.

Identifying Editing Targets

According to GamesBeat, the platform identified an estimated 2,300 candidate regulatory elements associated with avian beak size and shape. Lamm stated, "So far we’ve identified approximately 2,300 promising DNA editing targets for the dodo cranial facial morphology that we can now test in the lab." He described the platform as a "treasure map for the dodo genome," helping the team find only the genetic differences that matter rather than searching through a broad range of potential differences.

Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s Chief Science Officer, said in a statement, "The dodo’s defining anatomy emerged from networks of regulatory instructions that are difficult to interpret from ancient DNA alone." She added that GenoMorph allows the team to "prioritize the regulatory changes most likely to have shaped the dodo and move them into functional validation."

The company also announced advances in its Nicobar pigeon colony, the dodo’s closest living relative. The colony now has 36 birds, and the company has successfully created primordial germ cells, which are the cells that become eggs and sperm. "Because the Nicobar pigeon is the dodo’s closest living relative, those cells are a critical part of our strategy for creating birds that carry dodo traits," Lamm said.

New Delivery Systems and Investment

Colossal also detailed a new system using lipid nanoparticles to deliver gene-editing tools directly into developing bird embryos. Lamm said this allows the team to see how genetic changes impact development "without having to wait through an entire breeding cycle that requires birds to reach sexual maturity." The company reported that editing the bone-development regulator Runx2 produced a clear craniofacial phenotype in experiments, demonstrating the platform's ability to test specific genetic changes.

Regarding safety, Lamm emphasized that GenoMorph does not edit genes itself but helps identify which changes are worth investigating. "Identifying a potential edit doesn’t mean we immediately introduce it into an animal or assume it’s safe," he said. "The more precisely we can identify and validate these changes, the more informed our decisions become throughout the process."

In related news, XPRIZE founder Peter Diamandis, an investor in Colossal, announced the founding of a new venture capital firm, NeoGenesis Capital. Diamandis stated the firm will back companies using Colossal Biosciences’ programmable biology platform across health, agriculture, and conservation.

Why it matters

The launch of GenoMorph represents a shift in how de-extinction science handles incomplete data. By using AI to model developmental biology across living relatives, Colossal aims to overcome the bottleneck of limited ancient DNA. If successful, this approach could provide a repeatable framework for other extinct species where large population genomic datasets are unavailable. Additionally, the move signals a broader business strategy for Colossal, as investors like Diamandis look to leverage the underlying technology for applications beyond de-extinction, including agriculture and health.

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Sources

• techcrunch.com: Colossal Biosciences announces new AI platform to help accelerate de-extinction efforts | TechCrunch
• techbuzz.ai: Colossal Biosciences Unveils AI Platform for De-Extinction | The Tech Buzz
• gamesbeat.com: Colossal Biosciences accelerates dodo bird de-extinction timeline - GamesBeat

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.