The last Tasmanian Tiger to ever be documented died at the Hobart Zoo in Tasmania in 1936. The species has been extinct for nearly a century, with people now only being able to view the animal in grainy photographs, but researchers have found what they believe to be the key to reviving them.
A Striking Predator
The Tasmanian Tiger was a unique and striking animal that onced populated Australia. They had iconic stripes on their back, which gave them their name, despite having more of a wolf-like appearance. The animal went extinct due to hunting, habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species, and overall a negligence in conservation.
A New Discovery
The new discovery that is sparking resurrection efforts is a 110-year-old skull of a Tasmanian Tiger. The skull is in amazing shape and could hold the key genetic material necessary to reverse the mistakes that led to the extinction of the species nearly a hundred years ago.
RNA Extraction
The reason behind the skull being such a huge deal is that scientists managed to extract high-quality RNA (ribonucleic acid) from it. This is a crucial part of understanding the genetic makeup of the animal and its biological characteristics. In the past, resurrection efforts were cut short by degraded genetic material.
Leading The Charge
Leading the ambitious, and somewhat controversial charge, is the University of Melbourne and Colossal Biosciences – a company known for their de-extinction goals for numerous bygone species. The combined resources of these organizations could be the best possible chance we have of resurrecting an extinct species.
The First Step
The steps ahead for both parties will be massively complicated and delicate. The Tasmanian Tiger’s genomes must be sequenced using the RNA that was already extracted. With a complete understanding of the genetics of the animal, the next stages can begin.
Using Living Relatives
Sequencing genomes is a delicate process since every aspect of the animal needs to be taken into account, from its unique stripes to its powerful jaws. To aid in this process, researchers doing the sequencing are using the Tasmanian Tiger’s closest living relative as an analog – the Dasyurid species.
Modifying the Dasyurid
Using Dasyurid DNA, scientists can pinpoint key differences between them and what the Tasmanian Tiger’s DNA should look like. Using clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) as a gene-editing tool, they can modify the Dasyurid DNA to resemble the Tasmanian Tigers.
An Embryo
If modifying the Dasyurid DNA is successful, then a Tasmanian Tiger-like Embryo can be created. Once this embryo is created, it will need a surrogate to carry it to birth. A surrogate Dasyurid mother is planned to be used. If this process is successful, then an animal closely resembling a Tasmanian Tiger can be born, bringing it as close as possible to seeing this extinct species coming back to life.
Ethics
Although the project has immense potential, and many believe it is correcting past mistakes, there are others that bring ethics into consideration. How the modern ecosystem will be altered by the introduction of the species is a concern, as well as the welfare of the modified species. There is a lot of responsibility in the hands of the project leaders.
Benefits
With ethical consideration in mind, there could be potential benefits to restoring a lost species back into its ecosystem. They were once a key species in their environment and their comeback could bring ecological balance, but in their absence, it is uncertain if this will play out the way many hope it will.
The Future
Another goal for the future of this project is to create a sanctuary dedicated to this extinct species if their de-extinction is possible. They may be able to thrive in a protected environment where their population can be closely monitored and have a second chance at life on this planet.
Caution And Hope
While there are arguments for both the benefits and ethics of the project, the future impact of the project remains uncertain amidst caution and hope. If successful, a new chapter in conservation could be achieved, and a species that was snuffed out due to human negligence could be seen alive again.
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