Live chicks hatched from artificial eggshell in bid to revive extinct 12-foot bird, biotech company says
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- Colossal Biosciences announced it successfully hatched 26 baby chicks using a 3D-printed lattice structure that mimics an eggshell, marking a milestone in their mission to resurrect extinct species.
- The artificial egg system replicates key features like oxygen permeability and calcium supplementation but lacks other natural egg components such as temporary organs for embryo nourishment and waste removal.
- Scientists praised the technological achievement but expressed skepticism about true de-extinction, emphasizing that genetically modified birds are not the same as extinct species like the moa.
- Colossal aims to scale this technology to eventually recreate large extinct birds like New Zealand’s giant moa, though significant genetic and ecological challenges remain.
- Critics and bioethicists caution about the ecological implications and suggest focusing efforts on conserving endangered species rather than attempting to revive extinct ones.