Bringing extinct animals back from the dead is no longer the realm of science fiction but is fast becoming a scientific reality.
Around the world, research is ongoing to bring back key species using modern science advances in DNA sequencing, DNA editing and reproductive technologies.
Our research focuses on the marsupial, thylacine—also known as the Tasmanian tiger—which is in fact one of the best candidates for de-extinction.
If we look specifically at the process to de-extinct the thylacine, there are nine key steps.
STEP 1:
The good news is that this step is complete. We’ve released the thylacine genome which is basically a complete genetic blueprint or set of instructions on how to build a thylacine.
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STEP 2:
This is another one the team have already completed. We now have the sequence for several species which represent the thylacine’s closest relatives, which includes the dunnart or marsupial mouse.
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STEPS 5 TO 7
These steps require the development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for marsupials and is in development with the TIGRR lab. These techniques are required to use living stem cells to make an embryo and then successfully transfer it into a host species’ uterus.
