.Very soon the adage “extinction is forever” may have to be abandoned. Scientists around the word are perfecting methods that may bring back animals as diverse as wooly mammoths and dodo birds. A thylacine genome breakthrough may soon speed the return of the Thylacine to the land of the living.
The thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the world’s largest marsupial predator. Also known as the Tasmanian tiger, the creature was common on the Australian continent. A variety of factors including hunting by humans drove the animals to a last pocket in Tasmania. The last wild specimen is believed to have died in 1920. The last captive in 1936. Some still cling to the faint hope that there are a few alive today.
Advances in genetic science may return them to life.
Advances in genetic science, such as the thylacine genome breakthrough, are making it possible to “de-extinct” animals. Finding enough suitable DNA is the first step. An embryo can then be created with the extinct creatures nearest living relative. That animal can bring the embryo to term. The result will be very close but not exactly the same as the extinct animal.
Until recently thylacines were considered a long shot. There has to be enough usable DNA available for any de-extinction project. Several breakthroughs have occurred however, and DNA may be available. The bigger problem is the fact that the nearest living relative is mouse sized and surrogate birth will be very challenging.
The advances have been exciting never the less.
There have been several advances. The latest thylacine genome breakthrough comes from the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) genomics lab.
“Australia’s thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, has been extinct for decades, but Colossal Biosciences has made a breakthrough in bringing it back, thanks to the efforts of the UCSC Paleogenomics Lab.
“The UCSC Paleogenomics Lab, led by Colossal Scientific Director Beth Shapiro, has processed samples from a 110-year-old preserved head reconstruct about 99.9% of the Tasmanian genome from it (Sic original)
“The thylacine samples used for our new reference genome are among the best preserved ancient specimens my team has worked with,” said Shapiro. “It’s rare to have a sample that allows you to push the envelope in ancient DNA methods to such an extent.”
Researchers in Sweden recently recovered RNA from a 110 year-old Thylacine specimen. This recovery challenged beliefs about the fragility of RNA and it is thought it may be useful in other de-extinction challenges. Other genome breakthroughs have included the discovery of more potential DNA sources.
Meanwhile, a study of potential sightings after the official extinction date holds faint hope a few may still roam Tasmania.
Of course, thylacine resurrection is not even necessary if they are not actually extinct. The Thylacine Awareness Group of Australia (TAGOA) is dedicated to proving the experts wrong. The fact that a recent study suggests the beasts survived long after official extinction strengthens their resolve. Some experts think credible sightings from the 1990’s exist. Of course sightings are controversial and can be faked or mistaken so perhaps the question of thylacine resurrection remains open in both senses.