Biotech breakthrough: Live chicks hatched from artificial eggs

Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, has successfully hatched 26 live chicks from artificial eggs, marking a significant advancement in reproductive technology. The breakthrough could support efforts to revive extinct species like the dodo and the giant moa. The artificial eggs, made from a 3D-printed lattice structure with a bioengineered membrane, mimic the oxygen transfer of natural eggshells. The chicks, now housed at the company's avian facility, were monitored from embryo to birth, demonstrating the technology's viability. The artificial eggs are compatible with standard incubators and could potentially support larger eggs, such as those of the extinct moa. Colossal plans to test the technology further with emu and ostrich eggs before scaling up. The company's CEO, Ben Lamm, emphasized that the innovation re-engineers natural processes rather than simply copying them. Independent scientists acknowledge the technology's potential but caution that reviving extinct species remains a distant goal. Evolutionary biologist Vincent Lynch noted that the technology could create genetically modified birds but not true extinct species. The artificial eggs feature a permeable membrane that allows natural oxygen diffusion, addressing previous challenges with DNA damage from high oxygen levels. The development also serves as a stepping stone toward artificial womb technology.