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De-Extinction EXPLAINED
What is De-Extinction?
De-extinction is the scientific process of reviving species that have disappeared from Earth. Using advanced genetic tools such as CRISPR, researchers attempt to recreate traits of extinct animals by editing the DNA of their closest living relatives. Well-known candidates include the dodo, woolly mammoth, and moa.
How Does It Work?
1. DNA Recovery – Scientists collect DNA fragments from preserved remains of extinct species.
2. Gene Editing – Missing sequences are reconstructed using DNA from closely related living animals.
3. Cell Development – The edited DNA is inserted into germ cells (precursors to sperm and eggs).
4. Embryo Growth – These cells can be used to produce embryos, which may then develop into living animals.
Example: The dodo, extinct since the 1600s, is being studied by editing Nicobar pigeon DNA to reintroduce dodo-like traits.
Recent Advances
Dodo Project: A US-based company has successfully grown primordial germ cells of the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo’s closest relative—an important step toward creating dodo embryos.
Funding & Expansion: Over $120 million has been raised, reflecting strong investor interest in de-extinction.
Other Species: Research is also underway on the woolly mammoth (testing cold-resistant traits in mice), the dire wolf (using gray wolf DNA), and New Zealand’s moa.
Why Bring Species Back?
• To restore damaged ecosystems.
• To increase biodiversity and deepen understanding of evolution.
• To symbolically address past human-driven extinctions.
Major Challenges
Incomplete DNA: Genomes are often degraded, requiring assumptions during reconstruction.
Authenticity: Revived species may be close genetic approximations, not exact replicas.
Adaptability: Modern ecosystems differ from the past, making survival uncertain.
Cost & Time: Projects require billions of dollars and decades of research.
Ethical and Ecological Concerns
Animal Welfare: Surrogate mothers and embryos may experience suffering during experiments.
Ecological Risks: Reintroduced species could disrupt existing ecosystems or become invasive.
Conservation Priorities: Critics argue resources might be better used to protect endangered species still alive today.
Governance Questions: Global consensus is needed on which species to revive, and how to regulate them responsibly.
Future Possibilities
The first dodos may appear within 5–7 years if current progress continues.
Techniques from de-extinction may also help boost genetic diversity in endangered species, aiding conservation.
Long-term success depends not only on science, but also on public acceptance, ethical responsibility, and global cooperation.
Quote for Civil Service Aspirants
“True leadership lies not only in knowing what science can achieve, but in deciding what it ought to pursue responsibly.”
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