A group of scientists is working to bring back the dodo, a bird that has been extinct since the 17th century. This project gained new momentum with the collaboration between Colossal Biosciences, specializing in genetic engineering, and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit entity.
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Habitat restoration
In reality, this major Project includes the recovery of the dodo's natural habitats on Mauritius, located off the east coast of Africa. The local government is supporting this initiative. In addition to resurrecting the species, the objective is to create an environment conducive to its survival.
Those responsible for the project emphasize the importance of reintroducing animals into their natural environment for the project to be successful.
How the procedure will be carried out
The research team has now completely mapped the dodo genome. Now, they are working with cells from a still-living close relative, the Nicobar pigeon. The goal is to create a reference genome for the dodo.
In parallel, researchers are trying to create genetically modified chickens that could serve as hosts for dodo embryos.
History of the Dodo
Colossal Biosciences clarifies that, in the 19th century, the dodo was considered a creature of legend. However, historical documents indicate that Dutch sailors were the first to report its existence.
The dodo's arrival on the islands is a mystery, but it is known that the species thrived without natural predators until the late 1500s. Before human interference, the flightless dodo managed to maintain a stable population despite laying just one egg per year.
Unfortunately, with the arrival of humans and the introduction of other species such as rats, goats, pigs, deer and monkeys, the dodo population was quickly decimated. It is believed that the last sighting of the dodo occurred around 1690, marking its extinction.
How to resurrect a species?
Even with this context, there is still hope, to resurrect the species. According to Ben of Colossal Biosciences, the first step in bringing a species back is identifying its closest living relative.
This is necessary to build a reference genome, which is a fundamental step in the process. To do this, tissue samples from the related animal are needed.