Colossal Biosciences Unveils GenoMorph AI Platform to Advance De-Extinction Research

Image: Image Credits:Colossal Labs · Source

Colossal Biosciences introduced GenoMorph, an AI platform that leverages 3D morphology and genomics to identify gene edits aiding de-extinction, starting with the dodo bird. Investor Peter Diamandis also launched a fund to support startups using this platform.

Colossal Biosciences announced the launch of GenoMorph, a pioneering artificial intelligence platform designed to accelerate the de-extinction of extinct species, with an initial focus on the dodo bird. The platform utilizes advanced 3D morphology analysis, comparative genomics, and developmental biology to identify critical genetic targets for editing, even when only limited gene data are available.

The challenge GenoMorph addresses is the scarcity of complete genomes for some extinct species, such as the dodo, for which only one genome has been sequenced compared to the hundreds accessible for species like the woolly mammoth. Colossal CEO Ben Lamm explained that traditional genomic comparison methods require multiple high-quality genomes, which are often unavailable for ancient, extinct animals.

To overcome this, Colossal integrated developmental data from closely related species—including chickens, quail, ducks, and pigeons—and combined this with genetic information and 3D cranial measurements from over 70 bird species. This comprehensive dataset enabled GenoMorph’s AI to learn which regions of DNA influence features such as beak and facial morphology. Consequently, the platform can predict the key genetic switches responsible for an extinct species’ unique physical traits, effectively acting as a "treasure map" to focus gene-editing efforts.

So far, the platform has identified approximately 2,300 promising DNA editing targets related to the dodo’s craniofacial traits, which Colossal hopes to validate through laboratory testing. The company has developed a novel method using lipid nanoparticles to deliver gene-editing tools directly into developing bird embryos, significantly speeding up the evaluation of how genetic edits affect development without having to wait for full reproductive maturity.

Supporting these efforts, Colossal announced that its Nicobar pigeon colony has expanded to 36 birds and that the company has successfully created primordial germ cells capable of developing into eggs and sperm—critical steps since the Nicobar pigeon is the closest living relative to the dodo.

Lamm emphasized that GenoMorph is intended to make gene editing more precise and controllable by narrowing down genetic edits worthy of investigation, rather than performing edits indiscriminately. This approach ensures more informed and safer genetic engineering decisions.

In parallel, Peter Diamandis, founder of XPRIZE and an investor in Colossal, has launched NeoGenesis Capital, a venture capital firm aimed at supporting startups leveraging Colossal’s programmable biology platform across health, agriculture, and conservation sectors. This endorsement signifies growing confidence in GenoMorph’s potential to impact not only de-extinction but broader biological innovation.

Colossal Biosciences’ GenoMorph represents a significant technological advancement in synthetic biology, merging AI with developmental genetics to overcome the challenges of limited genomic data and expanding possibilities for genetic revival and biodiversity restoration.