Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech company, is spearheading the effort using gene editing technologies similar to those intended for resurrecting the woolly mammoth and dodo.
The last thylacine died in 1936, making it a strong candidate for de-extinction due to its relatively recent disappearance. The team used a well-preserved 108-year-old specimen to extract the DNA, allowing them to delve into the creature’s genetic makeup. Their research even provided insights into how the thylacine’s senses and brain might have functioned.
However, achieving de-extinction involves more than reconstructing DNA. Scientists are working on editing the genome of the fat-tailed dunnart, the thylacine’s closest living relative, to re-create a creature resembling the extinct predator. They’ve already made significant progress with over 300 genetic edits to dunnart cells.
If all goes to plan, the Tasmanian tiger could be reborn in three years.
While some experts are excited about the scientific advancements, others question the ethical and practical implications. Critics argue that millions of dollars would be better spent conserving existing endangered species rather than reviving long-extinct ones.
Concerns also center on whether current habitats, degraded by human activity, could sustain the reintroduced species.
