It may only be a matter time before dinosaurs are back us. Biotechnology and genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences claims it is the cusp of successfully bringing back extinct species. Tuesday, the company announced its plan to resurrect the moa – a 3.6-metre-tall, flightless bird. The giant moa once roamed New Zealand's South Island. It was hunted extinction 600 years ago. Colossal's chief scientist Beth Shapiro said: "We're bringing back avian dinosaurs." Her colleagues will try to recreate the extinct bird extracting DNA the bones long-deceased moa. Scientists will use this DNA to modify the genome an emu, which is the closest living relative the moa.
Colossal is embarking many "de-extinction" projects. These have created controversy the scientific community. Colossal defines de-extinction as: "The process generating an organism that both resembles and is genetically similar an extinct species." It claims de-extinction will allow scientists to engineer natural resistances endangered animals today. It would also enhance the adaptability species to "thrive" amid climate change, dwindling resources, disease and human interference. However, critics contend that extinct animals cannot be replicated. Many scientists are concerned the unforeseen and detrimental impacts inserting "hybrid" species the wild.
