Scientists across the world are trying to bring back some extinct species to life.
What is De-extinction?
The process of bringing an extinct species back to life is termed as de-extinction.
Scientists are carrying this process out to bring back the dodo, woolly mammoth, passenger pigeon and other animals.
How do scientists plan to bring species back to life?
- Old DNA samples of an extinct animal are taken.
- Scientists rely on fossils like bones, teeth, hair and skeletons of extinct animals in order to extract a DNA sample.
- Scientists are trying to bring back the wooly mammoth by using preserved DNA from a frozen wooly mammoth body.
- Every living species has a particular cell sequence called the genome. When the DNA of a particular species is found, scientists use it to reassemble its genome. Then, the extracted DNA sample is injected into the nucleus of a cell. It is then treated till the cell divides itself into an embryo.
- Once ready, it is inserted into the embryonic cell of a suitable, non-extinct, closest relative of the extinct species, called a surrogate.
For Example :
The Nicobar pigeon is the closest non-extinct relative of the dodo and can be used to bring back the dodo.
Most importantly, a habitat should be made available for these animals to survive again. Modern day changes like pollution can affect species even if they are brought back.
In 2003, a Spanish and French scientists team had succeeded in bringing back the Bucardo, a wild goat, back from extinction. But it lived only for ten minutes before it became extinct again.
So, why not care for the ones who are trying to survive and are on the verge of extinction?
For more such interesting General Knowledge articles and videos, visit : https://mocomi.com/learn/general-knowledge/