Could extinct giants return? First-ever lab-grown chick comes alive

Scientists have reported a controversial and potentially game-changing breakthrough after successfully developing a chicken using an artificial egg system for the first time — a development that is already sparking debate about the future of wildlife, cloning, and even extinction reversal.

The research was announced by biotech firm Colossal Biosciences, which said live chicks were grown inside a specially designed capsule that mimics the environment of a natural egg. The structure reportedly included a transparent glass top, allowing scientists to monitor development throughout the process.

According to the company, the system is designed to simulate the conditions required for avian embryo growth outside a traditional shell — a step they describe as crucial for future work in de-extinction science.

Researchers say the experiment could eventually support efforts to study or even revive extinct species such as the giant moa, a flightless bird once native to New Zealand that disappeared several centuries ago.

The moa is believed to have reached heights of around 12 feet, with eggs dramatically larger than those of modern chickens — a scale that makes natural reproduction impossible without advanced biological intervention.

Scientists involved in the project described the moment the chick was successfully removed from the artificial egg system as a landmark achievement, calling it a major step in understanding how to replicate natural incubation environments in controlled settings.

The company says the breakthrough goes beyond simply “growing a chick,” arguing it represents progress toward recreating the complex biological conditions required for embryo development in large or extinct bird species.

However, experts also note that while the experiment marks technical progress, the broader idea of bringing back extinct animals remains highly complex and far from reality.

Still, the development has triggered widespread online fascination, with many questioning how far science can now push the boundaries between natural reproduction and laboratory creation.