Colossal Biosciences has announced GenoMorph, an AI platform designed to accelerate its de-extinction work, particularly for the dodo. The platform uses 3D morphology, comparative genomics, and developmental biology to identify genes that could be edited when only limited genomes are available. The dodo has just one genome to work with, compared with 100 for the woolly mammoth, because tropical conditions degrade DNA faster than cold climates.
To build GenoMorph, the company gathered developmental data from chickens, quail, ducks, and pigeons, along with genetic information and 3D skull measurements from more than 70 bird species. CEO Ben Lamm said the AI learns which DNA regions are active as birds develop beaks and facial structures, acting as a "treasure map" for the dodo genome. So far it has identified roughly 2,300 promising DNA editing targets for dodo cranial facial morphology, which will now be tested in the lab.
Colossal also described a lipid nanoparticle system to deliver gene-editing tools directly into developing bird embryos, avoiding the wait for a full breeding cycle. The company said its Nicobar pigeon colony now has 36 birds and that it has created the essential cells that become eggs and sperm, a step toward birds carrying dodo traits. Separately, XPRIZE founder Peter Diamandis, an investor in Colossal, announced a new VC firm, NeoGenesis Capital, to back companies using Colossal's programmable biology platform.