A remarkable breakthrough in genetics occurred a few weeks ago. A team of scientists extracted RNA from the extinct Tasmanian tigers. The research was conducted by extracting RNA from the skin and muscles of a 132-year-old fossil of a Tasmanian tiger known as a thylacine.
Scientists collects first RNA from an extents: Tasmanian Tiger. (Photo: Twitter/@sushilk42192201)
The Tasmanian tiger is a marsupial that disappeared in Australia a century ago. The Tasmanian tiger was also the only marsupial without a predator on the mainland. But the occasional invasion of Australia by poachers and the dominance of non-native species led to the demise of Tasmanian tigers.
Tasmanian Tiger (Photo: Twitter/@sushilk42192201)
Tasmanian tigers disappeared from the Australian mainland two thousand years ago. But they remained on the island of Tasmania. The last of the species died in 1936 at Hobart Zoo.
After this, the Tasmanian Tiger remained the dream of many. There were many reports of sightings of these in many places in Tasmania, but nothing could be confirmed.
Trying to bring it back
In 1990, when genetics began to gain importance, the desire to bring them back through genetic engineering arose in the scientific world. Efforts in this regard have been intensified recently. Efforts are being made to bring back the Tasmanian tiger through gene editing technology.
Scientists collects first RNA from an extents: Tasmanian Tiger. (Photo: Twitter/@sushilk42192201)
The repatriation project is being carried out by the University of Melbourne and US genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences. Scientists believe that the return of Tasmanian tigers will lead to qualitative changes in the Australian environment. Apart from this, there is also the scientific curiosity behind this to bring back the creatures that were buried thousands and centuries ago.
132-year-old fossil of a Tasmanian tiger. (Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP)
The research uses CRISPR, a critical technology in genetic research. The first step is to sequence the genomes of Tasmanian tigers. This research is very expensive due to the many complications involved. Famous movie stars including Chris Hemsworth are its sponsors.
Tasmanian Tiger (Photo: Twitter/@sushilk42192201)
English Summary:
Scientists resurrect extinct Tasmanian tigers using groundbreaking genetic breakthrough
#genetic #material #organism #isolated #Tasmanian #Tiger #comeback
2023-10-21 02:19:06
