The American biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences has launched a project to revive the dodo bird, which became completely extinct in the 17th century. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to Bloomberg, the company has set a seven-year timeline to achieve this goal. Researchers have succeeded in cultivating primary germ cells taken from the pigeon, one of the dodo's closest relatives, in laboratory conditions.
This process allows for the reconstruction of the dodo's genetic structure. Colossal Biosciences has spent over $120 million on the project, and the company's total funding has reached $555 million.
The startup's market value exceeds $10.3 billion. In the coming years, a special bird research and genetic study center is planned to be built in the state of Texas.
Additionally, the company has previously worked on reviving the "dire wolf." Scientists combined genes of modern gray wolves with samples taken from fossilized remains to create a larger new species.
These animals are 20–25 percent larger than current wolves. However, this project sparked debates among experts, as some scientists emphasize that the new species is not a true dire wolf but rather a genetic combination close to its distant relative.
