Colossal Biosciences unveils GenoMorph to narrow dodo DNA edits
The platform is meant to help Colossal test the most promising edits sooner in its de-extinction work.
Colossal Biosciences unveiled GenoMorph, an AI platform meant to narrow down which DNA changes are worth testing in its de-extinction work, especially for the dodo where usable genome data is scarce. The company says the system combines comparative genomics, 3D morphology, and developmental biology, and it has already surfaced about 2,300 candidate edits for dodo cranial and facial traits. Colossal also said its Nicobar pigeon colony has grown to 36 birds and that it has produced the germ cells needed to make eggs and sperm, a step tied to its plan for engineering birds with dodo traits. Founder and CEO Ben Lamm said the company built GenoMorph over more than a year and also developed a lipid nanoparticle delivery system to test edits in developing bird embryos faster than waiting for full breeding cycles. Separately, XPRIZE founder Peter Diamandis said he has launched NeoGenesis Capital to invest in companies using Colossal’s programmable biology platform in health, agriculture, and conservation.
Why it matters
For Colossal, GenoMorph changes the pace of early-stage editing by helping it sort likely useful DNA changes from a much larger set of possibilities. That matters most for the dodo work, where the company says it has limited genome data and has already flagged about 2,300 targets, while its bird cell and embryo delivery work supports faster testing of those edits.
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Sources
- TechCrunch