Colossal Biosciences Unveils AI Tool to Map Dodo Anatomy

GenoMorph functions by bridging the gap between limited ancient genomic data and the complex developmental biology of living birds. The platform, built from an atlas of embryos across chickens, quail, ducks, and pigeons, has identified over 2,300 candidate regulatory elements linked to craniofacial development. These findings offer a roadmap for precision genome editing, moving beyond standard protein-coding genes to target the subtle switches that govern physical form.

To refine the dodo’s genetic record, the team applied a computational assembly method originally developed for its dire wolf project. This iterative approach allows researchers to recover missing sequences by mapping ancient DNA fragments against an evolving reference genome. The company has also expanded its colony of Nicobar pigeons—the dodo’s closest living relative—to 36 birds, providing the necessary biological foundation for testing these edits. Alongside these genomic efforts, Colossal has introduced a lipid-nanoparticle delivery system to introduce gene-editing tools into avian embryos with higher success rates than traditional methods. These technologies are now being used to validate candidate traits in real time, shifting the dodo project from theoretical mapping to experimental testing.