Biotech Firm Colossal Biosciences Hatches Chicks Using Artificial Eggshells, Sparking De-Extinction Debate
Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company focused on de-extinction, has successfully hatched 26 baby chickens using a 3D printed lattice structure that mimics an eggshell. This development is part of the company's broader mission to resurrect extinct species. The artificial eggshell technology allows for the incubation of fertilized eggs, with added calcium to support embryo development. Colossal's CEO, Ben Lamm, suggests that this technology could eventually be used to genetically modify living birds to resemble extinct species, such as New Zealand's South Island giant moa. However, independent scientists have expressed skepticism, noting that while the technology is impressive, it lacks certain components necessary to be considered a true artificial egg. Critics also question the feasibility of reviving extinct species, emphasizing that the resulting creatures would be genetically modified birds rather than true replicas of extinct animals. 
