Colossal Biosciences announces new AI platform to help accelerate de-extinction efforts

Key points

• Colossal Biosciences announced GenoMorph, an AI platform that uses 3D morphology, comparative genomics and developmental biology to find genes for de-extinction projects.
• The company has identified about 2,300 promising DNA editing targets for dodo cranial facial morphology and is working with only one dodo genome.
• Colossal's Nicobar pigeon colony now has 36 birds and the company has created the cells that become eggs and sperm.

Colossal Biosciences announced Wednesday a new AI platform called GenoMorph to help accelerate its efforts to bring back extinct species, TechCrunch reported exclusively.

The platform uses advanced 3D morphology, comparative genomics and developmental biology to identify genes that could be edited in de-extinction projects that have limited gene data. The company is using it in its effort to bring back the dodo bird.

Limited dodo genomes

Colossal is working with only one dodo genome, compared with the 100 genomes it has obtained for its woolly mammoth project. The company said DNA from the woolly mammoth is more plentiful because colder climates preserve DNA better than the tropics where the dodo lived.

CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm told TechCrunch that scientists normally compare many genomes to understand which genetic differences cause certain traits, but that with ancient DNA from extinct species whose DNA is severely limited, "We don't have that luxury."

Normally, scientists can compare many genomes to understand which genetic differences are responsible for certain traits. 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.

— Ben Lamm

How GenoMorph was built

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 said building the platform took more than a year.

Lamm said the AI learns which regions of DNA are active as different birds develop their beaks and facial structures, and uses that to predict which genetic switches may have given the dodo its appearance. He called it a "treasure map for the dodo genome."

He said Colossal has identified approximately 2,300 promising DNA editing targets for dodo cranial facial morphology. The company also announced that its Nicobar pigeon colony now has 36 birds and that it has created the cells that become eggs and sperm.