<
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/31/gene-editing-company-hopes-to-bring-dodo-back-to-life>
"The dodo, a Mauritian bird last seen in the 17th century, will be brought back
to at least a semblance of life if attempts by a gene editing company are
successful.
Gene editing techniques now exist that allow scientists to mine the dodo genome
for key traits that they believe they can then effectively reassemble within
the body of a living relative.
Dodos are most closely related to pigeons, according to sequencing of the
proverbially dead bird’s genome.
The scientists in question said their work, beyond providing an insight into
the extinct dodo’s existence, could help inform the conservation of rare
species that are not yet extinct. However, there is a fierce debate among
biologists over whether this sort of research should be pursued.
Colossal Biosciences, the gene editing company involved, has already embarked
on projects to revive the woolly mammoth and the thylacine. But the dodo would
be its first bird, which is significant as it means changing the gene editing
technique to accommodate an external egg.
This could bypass at least some of the ethical dilemmas for scientists. With
the mammalian species the technique requires implanting gene-editing material
into the reproductive system of an existing relative of the species, such as an
elephant in the case of the mammoth. It could take many pregnancies in practice
to create viable offspring from such a method.
Performing the same technique on an egg-laying bird should be less stressful
for the donor species. The researchers will be able to work with pigeon eggs,
and use genetic material from pigeons that can be modified to reflect key
traits of the dodo, including its flightlessness.
But this will also be technically challenging, as no one has yet managed to use
gene-editing for birds in this way."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
