Cloning of Ancient and Extinct Animal Species
Over the years, there have been numerous discussions about the desire to bring back ancient and extinct animal species through cloning.
Mammoths and Cloning
Mammoths went extinct around 4,000 years ago, and their well-preserved remains frozen in ancient ice allow for DNA extraction. This makes them the primary focus of cloning efforts, presenting a significant challenge for humanity.
Expected Revival: The first successful hybrid mammoths are expected to be created within 5-10 years, around 2029-2034! The companies Colossal and Revive & Restore are using the revolutionary CRISPR gene-editing technology to modify the genetic code of Asian elephants to incorporate traits resembling those of the woolly mammoth. The revival of the woolly mammoth could help combat global warming by restoring Arctic tundra ecosystems.
Two Other Main Targets
- Tasmanian Tiger: Extinct in the 20th century, in 1936.
- Its genetic reconstruction is being pursued using a closely related marsupial by researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia.
- Some researchers believe cloning the Tasmanian Tiger may be possible within 10-15 years, around 2034-2039!
- Dodo Bird: Extinct in the 17th century, around 1690.
- Its genetic code has been reconstructed from fossils, but due to technological challenges, the chances of successful cloning are slim.
Potentially Exciting Candidates
- Saber-toothed Tiger: Extinct around 10,000 years ago. Hybridization experiments, such as with large cats, may lead to successful outcomes within 20-30 years, potentially around 2050-2060. Its ecological benefit is unclear, and it’s uncertain whether the Smilodon (saber-toothed tiger) would successfully integrate into today’s ecosystems.
- Dinosaurs: Extinct 65 million years ago. Their DNA is too ancient to be suitable for cloning.
- Ancient Birds: Species like Hesperornis or Archaeopteryx are interesting research targets. They are closely related to dinosaurs but lived during the later stages of evolution in the Cretaceous period.
- Cloning them is complicated but not impossible, as their genetic material may have been better preserved than that of dinosaurs. Manipulating the genomes of modern birds might be a future direction for research.
Ancient Humans and Cloning
The Neanderthals disappeared around 40,000 years ago during the Stone Age.
Remains of Homo neanderthalensis have been found and are well-preserved enough to allow for genetic studies. Currently, cloning complete human individuals seems unrealistic due to the extreme complexity of the human genome, as well as the ethical challenges involved.
The Neanderthal genome has already been sequenced, and scientists continue to study it to understand the differences between Neanderthals and modern humans and the evolutionary processes involved.
A portion of Neanderthal genetic heritage still exists in the modern human genome, as there was interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.
Further Biotechnology and Cloning News: https://moho.hohoka.com/biotechnologia/
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