Can extinct species be brought back to life? Scientists look to solve the riddle

If reports are to be believed, extinct species may be able to be brought back to life with the help of gene editing techniques. A billion-dollar company seems to be making concerted efforts in this regard.

Till now, gene editing techniques have been largely employed to prevent and treat human diseases. The firm is using these techniques to resurrect a flightless bird dodo, which had gone extinct since the 17th century.

The experts seem to have made some progress towards its revival, as per a release by US startup Colossal Biosciences. The dodo's genome has been completely encrypted by the Dallas-based corporation. Dodo is a Mauritian bird.


The scientists of the company have begun to use stem cell technology to resurrect many extinct species, which have not been present for more than 350 years.

The futuristic concept seems to have become feasible now. The gene editing techniques available nowadays have allowed scientists to mine the genome of the dodo for important traits that can be effectively reassembled within the body of a living relative, as per The Guardian.


According to the sequencing of the dodo’s genome, these birds are closely related to pigeons.

This work may also be helpful in the conservation of rare species that are not yet extinct. But there is still a fierce debate going on among biologists over whether this kind of research should be carried out.

This firm seems to have already started to work on projects to resurrect the woolly mammoth and the thylacine, the report added.

FAQs:

1. How many bird species have become extinct?
   Out of the about 11,154 known bird species, nearly 1.4% have become extinct.
2. What was the lifespan of a Dodo bird?
   10 to 30 years.