Colossal Biosciences Grows Chickens in Artificial Eggs

Why this is here: Colossal Biosciences’ artificial egg design allows for easy monitoring of developing embryos by leaving the top open for attachment to a microscope.

Colossal Biosciences in Dallas, Texas, hatched chickens inside 3D-printed artificial eggs. The company, known for its work in de-extinction, developed the system over two years.

It uses a titanium lattice and permeable membrane to mimic a natural egg. This new design differs from earlier attempts in the 1980s by not requiring constant oxygen flow, which could damage DNA.

The initial test involved transferring chicken embryos to the artificial shell. All chicks that developed to term are currently healthy. Colossal hopes to scale the technology to assist with breeding the South Island giant moa, an extinct bird with eggs 80 times larger than a chicken’s.

However, the company acknowledges that artificial eggs are not a solution to habitat loss or climate change. They envision this as one tool for conservation, allowing breeding of endangered birds without readily available surrogates. Further work is needed to adapt the system for larger species and ensure long-term viability.