Colossal Biosciences announced it has created artificial eggshells as part of its plan to resurrect the moa, the extinct flightless birds that once roamed New Zealand. The company previously claimed it brought back the dire wolf through genetic engineering techniques.
The moa stood up to 12 feet tall and weighed as much as 600 pounds. Their eggs were proportionally enormous, posing a unique challenge for any resurrection effort. Colossal's artificial shells address one of the most basic obstacles to recreating the species. Without eggshells that can support developing moa embryos, the genetic work alone achieves nothing.
The announcement represents progress on a specific technical hurdle. Yet independent experts express serious skepticism about the broader feasibility of the project. Creating a functional eggshell differs vastly from successfully breeding living animals.
Several biological barriers remain unresolved. Colossal would need to complete the moa genome from fragmented DNA samples, then insert that genetic code into a host animal capable of carrying and hatching moa eggs. The company has not identified a suitable surrogate species. Kiwi birds, the closest living relatives to moas, are themselves endangered and produce single eggs annually, making them impractical hosts.
Developmental biologists note that egg development involves far more than just the shell. Proper incubation temperature, humidity, and the complex molecular signaling between embryo and surrounding tissues all require precise replication. The company has not published peer-reviewed research detailing how its artificial shells address these factors.
Colossal's track record fuels additional concern. The company has made sweeping claims about de-extinction efforts without releasing detailed scientific evidence for independent verification. The dire wolf announcement generated skepticism among paleontologists regarding the authenticity of the claims.
Resurrecting the moa presents ecological questions as well.