More than three centuries after the dodo disappeared from Mauritius, efforts to bring the iconic bird back from extinction are taking a new step forward.
Dallas-based biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences says it has made significant progress in identifying the genetic traits that gave the dodo its distinctive appearance, a development that could accelerate its wider “de-extinction” programme.
The company is using artificial intelligence to analyse the dodo's DNA and pinpoint the genetic changes responsible for features such as its large hooked beak and unique skull structure.
Researchers hope this information will eventually allow them to recreate key dodo characteristics in the bird's closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon.
One of the biggest obstacles facing scientists is the limited amount of dodo DNA available for study.
Unlike living species, extinct animals leave behind only fragmented genetic material, making it difficult to determine which genes were responsible for specific traits. To overcome this challenge, Colossal has developed an AI-driven platform designed to identify the most promising genetic targets for editing.
Rather than relying solely on ancient DNA, the system compares developmental patterns across dozens of living bird species to better understand how characteristics such as beak shape and skull size evolved.
Researchers say the technology has narrowed thousands of possible genetic candidates to a smaller group that may explain many of the dodo's defining features.
The Nicobar pigeon, native to islands in Southeast Asia, is considered the dodo's closest living relative. Unlike the flightless dodo, it retains the ability to fly and is known for its iridescent green and copper-coloured plumage.
Scientists aim to introduce selected dodo traits into the pigeon through gene editing, ultimately producing birds that more closely resemble their extinct ancestor.
Colossal says it is nearing completion of a detailed analysis of the dodo genome and has improved its ability to test whether specific genetic edits produce the intended physical traits.
However, the company has not provided a timeline for when a living dodo-like bird might be produced.
Even if the genetic hurdles are overcome, researchers face a broader question: where would a revived dodo live?
The original species disappeared from Mauritius during the 17th century after human settlement introduced invasive predators and increased hunting pressure. Having evolved without natural enemies, the bird proved particularly vulnerable.
Any future reintroduction effort would require extensive habitat restoration and the control of introduced predators before dodo-like birds could be released safely.
Colossal says it is working with scientists, conservation groups and government officials in Mauritius to explore what such a programme might look like.
The dodo is one of several species targeted by Colossal's de-extinction initiative.
The company is also pursuing projects involving the woolly mammoth, the thylacine, often known as the Tasmanian tiger, the extinct bluebuck antelope and the giant moa bird.
Supporters of de-extinction argue that advances in genetics could help restore lost biodiversity and aid conservation efforts. Critics, however, question whether resources might be better spent protecting endangered species that still survive today.
For now, the dodo remains a symbol of human-driven extinction.
Yet researchers believe modern technology could eventually turn the bird from a historical cautionary tale into one of the most ambitious scientific restoration projects ever attempted.
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