AI uncovers thousands of DNA switches to guide dodo de-extinction via pigeon

An artificial-intelligence platform developed by Colossal Biosciences has mapped more than 2,300 regulatory DNA segments that likely shaped the dodo’s iconic skull and beak. The system, named GenoMorph, analyzed genetic data from chickens, quail, ducks, pigeons and other birds, linking specific regulatory elements to measurements of beak size, thickness and breadth. It identified 653 candidates for beak length and 1,698 for beak width, providing a detailed genetic roadmap for introducing those traits into the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.

Researchers stress the list is a starting point for experimental validation and genome editing. Colossal has grown its Texas-based Nicobar pigeon colony to 36 individuals and created a novel delivery platform for inserting DNA, RNA and CRISPR tools into embryos. The advance demonstrates a repeatable AI-driven approach for de-extinction projects where only sparse genomic data exist. While still far from reviving a living dodo, the breakthrough moves the scientific community closer to reconstructing extinct species’ defining features.