A version of the dodo bird ( Raphus cucullatus ) could make a return someday soon. Colossal Biosciences announced this week several milestones in its quest to bring the extinct species back to life.

On Wednesday, the Dallas-based company reported that its researchers at the Avian Genetics Group have successfully grown pigeon primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the lab, a scientific first. They also bred gene-edited chickens intended to serve as potential surrogates for the dodo and other ancient birds. Those accomplishments are crucial to the company’s plans to functionally restore the dodo to the land of the living.

“Colossal’s breakthrough in culturing pigeon PGCs solves a fundamental roadblock that has stymied bird genetic engineering for decades,” Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm t

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