Dallas-based de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences secured $150 million from nearly a dozen investors to revive the extinct dodo bird according to a Dallas Morning News article which says,
“Colossal Biosciences, the Dallas-based de-extinction company that’s pursuing projects to bring back species like woolly mammoths and Tasmanian tigers, is setting its sights on another extinct animal: the dodo bird.
The firm landed a $150 million investment to back the ambitious endeavor. Nearly a dozen investors chipped in, including Dallas private equity financier and adventurer Victor Vescovo, CIA-backed In-Q-Tel and the United States Innovative Technology Fund led by billionaire Thomas Tull.
Others putting up money are Breyer Capital, Bob Nelsen, Animal Capital, Animoca Brands, Peak 6, BOLD Capital and Jazz Ventures.”
The dodo became extinct due to human activities. Its genome was recently fully sequenced, and scientists plan to collaborate on de-extinction and re-wilding efforts according to a government technology article. They say,
“Characterized by its blue-gray plumage, large head, and distinctive curved beak, the dodo was bigger than a turkey, weighing about 50 pounds. The stocky bird met its demise as a direct result of human settlement and ecosystem competition. Dodos were first spotted by Portuguese sailors around 1507, per Britannica, but were extinct by 1681.
“The dodo is a prime example of a species that became extinct because we—people—made it impossible for them to survive their native habitat,” said Beth Shapiro, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Santa Cruz who led the team that fully sequenced the dodo’s genome for the first time in March 2022, in the announcement. “I am thrilled to collaborate with Colossal and the people of Mauritius on the de-extinction and eventual re-wilding of the dodo. I particularly look forward to further genetic rescue tools focused on birds and avian conservation.””
Colossal’s technology could aid in human healthcare while reversing biodiversity loss. The company aims to bring together experts in various fields.
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