Colossal Biosciences announced on Wednesday a new AI platform designed to accelerate its efforts to bring back extinct species. The platform, named GenoMorph, utilizes advanced 3D morphology, comparative genomics, and developmental biology to identify genes that could be edited in de-extinction projects, particularly when gene data is limited.
Focus on the Dodo Bird
The company is specifically using this platform as part of its initiative to resurrect the dodo bird, which presents challenges due to the limited genomic data available. For instance, Colossal is working with only one dodo genome, in contrast to the 100 genomes it has collected for its woolly mammoth de-extinction project. The DNA of the woolly mammoth is more accessible because the colder climates in which it lived preserved the DNA better than the tropical environment of the dodo.
““Normally, scientists can compare many genomes to understand which genetic differences are responsible for certain traits,” said Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal. “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.”
Development of GenoMorph
To create GenoMorph, Lamm explained that the company gathered developmental data from various bird species, including chickens, quail, ducks, and pigeons, and combined it with genetic information and 3D skull measurements from over 70 bird species. The development of this platform took more than a year and builds on Colossal's extensive work in de-extinction.
Lamm described the platform as a “treasure map for the dodo genome,” which helps the team identify significant genetic differences rather than sifting through numerous potential variations.
