Jurassic Park isn't just a movie anymore as de-extinction startup hatches live chicks
Fortune • • world
Key Points:
- Colossal Biosciences successfully hatched 26 baby chickens using a 3D printed lattice structure that mimics an eggshell, aiming to develop scalable artificial egg technology.
- The company envisions using this technology to genetically engineer birds resembling extinct species, such as New Zealand’s giant moa, whose eggs are significantly larger than chicken eggs.
- Independent scientists acknowledge the artificial eggshell’s innovation but note it lacks key biological components, emphasizing that it is not a fully artificial egg and expressing skepticism about true de-extinction.
- Colossal’s approach involves engineering challenges for surrogacy and birth before attempting to resurrect extinct species, while ethical and ecological concerns remain about reintroducing such animals into modern environments.
- Experts suggest that conservation efforts might be better focused on preserving endangered species rather than reviving extinct ones, highlighting the complexities and uncertainties of de-extinction projects.