"Scientists Aim to Bring Back the Dodo—Raising Ethical and Ecological Questions"

Colossal Biosciences, a leading biotechnology firm, has announced a significant fundraising milestone, securing $120 million in new investment to advance its ambitious de-extinction initiative targeting the dodo, a flightless bird once native to the island of Mauritius. The capital will be directed toward research and development of genetic technologies aimed at reconstructing the dodo’s genome using advanced computational biology and synthetic biology techniques. The project, which is part of a broader strategy to revive extinct species, has sparked considerable debate in scientific and conservation circles.

According to the firm’s latest statement, the investment comes at a pivotal stage in the project. Researchers have already mapped a high-resolution reference genome for the dodo using fragments recovered from museum specimens. With this foundation, Colossal Biosciences aims to leverage CRISPR and other gene-editing tools to identify and reconstruct the genetic blueprint of the species. The ultimate goal is to introduce these reconstructed genomes into a closely related living bird species—potentially the Nicobar pigeon—which could serve as a functional surrogate for the dodo.

The financial backing for the initiative underscores growing investor confidence in the field of genetic de-extinction. The biotech sector has seen a surge in funding and innovation in recent years, with several firms exploring the potential of genome editing to address biodiversity loss and ecosystem restoration. While the dodo project is one of the most ambitious in the field, experts caution that successful de-extinction remains a long-term scientific and ethical challenge. The process involves not only reconstructing the genome but also ensuring that the revived species can thrive in its historical habitat, now vastly altered by human activity.

Despite the scientific hurdles, the announcement has been welcomed by conservationists who see the project as a potential catalyst for broader ecological restoration efforts. Some researchers argue that the technological breakthroughs developed in the course of the dodo project could have wider applications, such as in conservation breeding programs or the treatment of genetic diseases in endangered species. Others, however, remain skeptical, emphasizing that conservation resources should be prioritized toward protecting living species and their habitats rather than resurrecting extinct ones.

Colossal Biosciences has also outlined plans to collaborate with international institutions and governments to ensure ethical oversight and scientific transparency throughout the project. As the firm moves forward, it will be closely monitored by both the scientific community and the public, who are increasingly aware of the transformative potential—and the risks—associated with genetic manipulation.