Colossal’s GenoMorph AI Identifies Genetic Targets for Dodo Research

Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences has introduced GenoMorph, an artificial-intelligence platform intended to guide its effort to recreate dodo traits. The system compares genetic information and skull shapes from more than 70 living bird species with developmental data from chickens, quail, ducks and pigeons. Researchers identified about 2,350 genetic switches that may explain the extinct bird’s unusual beak and are testing the candidates in the laboratory. Chief science officer Beth Shapiro said the work also builds on an unusually complete ancient dodo genome. Identifying promising changes is an intermediate research step: the company has not produced a living dodo.