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Scientists claim they are closer than ever to resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger, also known as the thylacine, a species that has been extinct since 1936. A team of US and Australian researchers has reportedly achieved a 99.9% accurate DNA sequence for the thylacine, marking a significant step in "de-extinction" efforts. The Tasmanian tiger, a large marsupial predator, roamed the forests of Tasmania before its population was wiped out to protect livestock. The last known individual died in captivity in a Hobart zoo. 

 

Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based company, is spearheading the effort to bring the species back. Colossal is also working on similar projects to revive other extinct species, such as the woolly mammoth and the dodo. According to Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer, the DNA samples of the thylacine they are using are exceptionally well-preserved. “The thylacine samples used for our new reference genome are among the best-preserved ancient specimens my team has worked with,” said Shapiro.

 

She added that it is rare to find DNA that allows scientists to push the boundaries of ancient DNA methods. The DNA sequence was extracted from a 108-year-old specimen preserved in alcohol at a museum in Melbourne, and it is remarkably close to the original genetic code of the thylacine. Additionally, the team was able to retrieve fragile RNA molecules, giving them further insight into how the thylacine's genes functioned.

 

Professor Andrew Pask from the University of Melbourne, a collaborator on the project, emphasized the significance of this discovery. “With this new resource in hand, we will be able to determine what a thylacine could taste, what it could smell, what kind of vision it had, and even how its brain functioned,” Pask explained.

 

While having the thylacine’s DNA is a major breakthrough, it is only one part of the complex process required to bring the species back. Colossal’s strategy involves gene editing, specifically using the DNA of the thylacine’s closest living relative, the fat-tailed dunnart, to recreate a version of the extinct marsupial. The scientists claim they have successfully made over 300 genetic edits to dunnart cells, mimicking thylacine traits. Additionally, they have developed techniques to induce ovulation in the dunnart and grow its embryos outside of the womb, similar to human IVF.

 

Despite these advances, the project has drawn criticism. Some conservationists believe that the significant resources being spent on reviving extinct species could be better used to protect endangered species currently on the brink of extinction. A fifth of Australia’s native mammals, for example, are at risk. There are also ethical concerns about reintroducing long-extinct species into environments that may no longer be able to support them due to human degradation. 

 

Some scientists, like Professor Jeremy Austin from the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, remain skeptical of the feasibility of de-extinction, calling it “a fairy tale science.” However, others, including Professor Pask, argue that even if de-extinction efforts are not entirely successful, the research could still lead to important advances in genetic science and conservation. Pask suggests that the breakthroughs in marsupial reproductive biology being made for the thylacine could be used to protect other endangered species, such as the Tasmanian devil, which is also facing the threat of extinction.

 

 

Based on a report from Sky News 2024-10-19

 

 

 

[NickyLouie]

Won't be enough genetic diversity....