De-extinction – A tool for modern problems

The woolly mammoth, the thylacine, the Tasmanian tiger, the passenger pigeon all of these species are extinct now, but thanks to modern technology and huge advancements in genetic engineering and biotechnology, they may return to earth once again. Does it sound trippy? Scientist claims that over 50% of the species will get extinct by the end of the century and perhaps they are working on bringing extinct species back to life.

Could we able to resurrect “DINOSAURS” if de-extinction is made possible?

What is De-Extinction and how an extinct species can be revived?

De-extinction is a process of creating an organism that either resembles or is an extinct species. This process is also called resurrection biology or species revivalism.

Cloning

Cloning is a commonly recommended process for the efficient reviving of an extinct species. It is done by extracting the nucleus from an extinct species only when it is preserved, swapping it into an egg, without a nucleus, and inserting it into a host, of that species' nearest living relative. 

Genome editing

Genome editing is an advancing area, especially with the help of the CRISPR/Cas systems. This discovery let the scientist understand that the Cas protein can be used as a molecular scissor in the genome editing process. By using cells from a closely related species to the extinct species, de-extinction can be achieved.

Genome reconstruction

This involves using genetic material from an extinct species, such as DNA or fossils, to create a computer model of the genome of the extinct species. This model can then be used to create a closely related species that has many of the same characteristics as the extinct species. This approach has not yet been used to bring back any extinct species.

Back breeding

Back breeding is a form of selective breeding in which animals are bred for traits that are not found in the species as a whole. This method can restore the traits of the ancestors of an extinct species, but the genome remains intact in the original species. Back breeding is also a form of artificial selection.

Iterative evolution

Iterative evolution is a natural process of de-extinction. This happens when one species goes extinct, but after some time another species evolves into a nearly identical organism. For example, the white-throated loon is a flightless bird that became extinct due to an unknown sea-level rise about 136,000 years ago. The species reappeared about 100,000 years ago when sea levels dropped, allowing the bird to evolve again as a flightless species on Aldabra Island.

It is important to note that de-extinction is a highly controversial topic and there are many ethical and practical issues surrounding the feasibility and desirability of the approach. As a result, it is unclear whether any of these approaches will ultimately be successful in bringing back extinct species.

Pros and Cons of De-extinction

Pros

De-extinction has the potential to have a number of benefits, including helping to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem function, as well as advancing our understanding of genetics and evolution. It could be a breakthrough in genetic engineering by opening ‘n’ number of possibilities. However, it also raises a number of ethical and practical issues, such as the potential impacts on existing ecosystems and the question of whether it is appropriate to bring extinct species back to life. 

It could give a perception of evolution and natural resources which was available during their period and it can help in restoring the polluted or damaged ecosystem. 

Cons

The major drawback of this ideology is the lack of resources. To resurrect a species a well-preserved tissue containing DNA is required. It is difficult to guess the condition these species lived in before extinction and how these species will be able to adapt to the current environmental conditions. De-extinction contains unforeseen consequences associated with it.

Is the de-extinction concept is plain wrong, or humans playing God?