4 Animals Science Wants To Bring Back From Extinction
But is it okay to do so?
It sounds like a Jurassic Park movie.
But no. This is not science fiction.
Scientists are working on something called de-extinction, where they hope to bring back species from the darkness. Shapiro (2016) highlights three main strategies to do so: back-breeding, cloning, and genetic engineering. Although he argues that these species will not be exact clones but proxies because of the different ecosystems they would live in, this controversial idea is one of the biggest questions in biology.
Can we make this happen?
Is it ethical to do so?
Well, science is already trying to resurrect and bring back animals from extinction.
1. Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)
A symbol of prehistoric megafauna.
This iconic animal once roamed the cold plains of the Pleistocene Epoch until it went extinct around 4,000 years ago (that’s a blink of an eye in evolutionary terms). While this animal is often associated with the Ice Age, the mammoth’s extinction is believed to be linked to both climate change and hunting by early humans.
Now, scientists are working on using genetic engineering to bring back the wooly mammoth. Some projects include Harvard’s Mammoth Revival Project and the one proposed by Collosal company. By sequencing its genome and comparing it to its closest living relative, the Asian elephant, researchers aim to insert mammoth genes into an Asian elephant’s DNA. These modified elephants would, theoretically, be able to survive in the conditions of the Arctic tundra.
Of course, this idea is controversial. Although it would be awesome to see an iconic extinct animal like the Mammoth come back to life, is it ethical to do so? Is it okay to alter elephant genetics? How can we ensure these animals will thrive in an environment they have not inhabited for millennia?
What do you think?
2. Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
Another iconic animal.
This animal was a flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius. Now, it is one of the most famous symbols of extinction. Its story is insane. For many years, the only reports we had from these animals came from letters from the Europeans. Luckily, expeditions to the island found some fossils, confirming the existence of this bird.
However, the dodo also has a sad story. It vanished in the late 1600s, only 90 years after the arrival of the Europeans. The primary cause? Well, it’s complex. But humans' hunting and the introduction of non-native species, such as rats or monkeys, were important. The dodo’s extinction marked a profound moment in the history of human impact on biodiversity.
But we may see a Dodo roam the earth again. Scientists, also through the Colossal project, are trying to bring it back to life. They are exploring genetic engineering techniques, including cloning and gene editing, to resurrect them. One possibility involves using their closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon, to reintroduce its traits.
But this also comes with big criticisms. As with the mammoth, the island ecosystem where the dodo once lived has since changed dramatically, and we can not confirm that they could survive in this new environment. Another criticism is regarding ethics. Isn’t it better to put all of that money and effort into conserving the current species we have? A counter-argument is that scientists are trying to make resurrection possible because of the sixth massive extinction we are experiencing due to human activity. If they are successful, we can bring back many animals from extinction.
In any case, the challenges are immense, but we’ll see how this project goes.
3. Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
Also known as the Tasmanian tiger, thylacines were carnivorous marsupials native to Australia and Tasmania. They became extinct in the 1930s, primarily due to hunting, habitat destruction, and disease. This unique predator is now considered one of the great lost species of modern times.
Of all the animals we discussed, this was the most recent to go extinct. For these reasons, scientists are working on bringing them back to life by combining cloning and gene editing. The idea is to use the DNA extracted from preserved thylacine specimens to create a genetically modified Tasmanian devil or another related marsupial. This is more than just a curiosity; it is a vital step toward restoring an important predator that once played a role in regulating ecosystems. This is why some argue that their resurrection could help control invasive species, such as rabbits and deer, which have become ecological problems in Australia and Tasmania.
However, the ecosystem destruction Tasmania faces poses a risk to making this project happen. And even if the thylacine is revised, it may struggle to survive without its ecological niche.
What do you think about it?
4. Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
This friendly pigeon once darkened the skies of North America.
Their flocks were so massive they could even block out the sun. These incredibly social birds once lived in enormous colonies. Sadly, they went extinct in the early 20th century primarily due to hunting and habitat destruction. Now, only photos and paintings of humans hunting the animals are left.
Scientists are also using genetic engineering and cloning techniques to resurrect the bird. Researchers are trying to identify traits of the passenger pigeon that could be recreated in its closest living relative, the band-tailed pigeon. The goal is not only to bring back this bird but also to better understand how to restore lost biodiversity in ecosystems altered by human presence.
Again, this project also has criticisms and ethical concerns. How can we confirm that reintroducing this species will not disrupt the current ecosystem?
Conclusion
Bringing animals back from extinction sounds like science fiction.
But it is happening. Scientists and companies are putting a lot of effort and (a lot of) money into making this possible. Although the idea is powerful and meaningful, many criticisms arise.
For example, we think we should invest that money and effort in understanding our current species, extracting genetic banks from their DNA, and applying conservation strategies. Even if we’re able to find a way to resurrect animals, that doesn’t mean we have to stop worrying about preserving species. This is not the idea. Extinction should never happen in the first place.
What do you think? Is it okay to bring animals back from extinction?
Let us know in the comments!
“With a greater sense of understanding comes a greater sense of wonder”. — Anil Seth.
Until the next time,
Axel and Victoria.
"Of all the animals we discussed, this is the earliest one that went extinct."
That's a weird sentence, because the other species went extinct before the Tasmanian Tiger. I think what you meant to say was that it was the most recent to go extinct.