REVIVAL OF THE PAST

GENETIC ROLE IN RESURRECTING EXTINCT SPECIES

INTRODUCTION

De-extinction, the revival of extinct wild species, has been an exciting scientific venture for scientists and the public. The primary tool behind this is genetics, which can bring back species that have disappeared from our planet. This importance can be divided into three categories: ancient DNA recovery and analysis, modern genetic tools to modify genomes, and these advances' ethical and ecological dimensions.

RECOVERY AND ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT DNA

The first step in the de-extinction of animals is to identify their DNA. Sometimes, DNA is extracted from well-preserved remains like bones, teeth, and even mummified tissues. Advancements in genome sequencing technologies have led to accurate decoding of these old genes. For instance, the woolly mammoth genome has been sequenced successfully as a significant candidate for de-extinction. This information provides a blueprint for use during subsequent stages of the de-extinction process.

ETHICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

There are numerous ethical and ecological questions around the potential revival of extinct species. It’s still ethically unclear whether mankind should bring back naturally disappeared ones or concentrate on safeguarding already endangered ones. The implications of introducing the revived species into today’s ecosystems are ecologically unpredictable and may disrupt extant ecological balances. In addition, the success of de-extinction efforts is based on whether a range of habitats exists for their thriving, which could not be in the form they originally were.

GENETIC EDITING AND CLONING

After sequencing the DNA of an extinct species, the next phase involves using genetic editing techniques to change the DNA of a living species. CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that enables scientists to precisely modify an organism's genome by adding or removing specific genes. For this work to be carried out, an Asian elephant, which is considered its closest relative, will have mammoth genes inserted so that it will give birth to hybrid offspring showing similarities to this extinct species. Another technique being studied is cloning, whereby a somatic(non-reproductive) cell nucleus from that extinct species is transferred into an egg cell from a surrogate mother belonging to a closely related species. Despite the challenges facing this method, the hope is that genetically identical organisms can be created with complete faithfulness toward the original genetic material of the extinct species.

CONCLUSION

Genetics plays a profound and complicated role in the resurrection of lost wild species. Ancient DNA recovery and analysis, application of advanced genetic editing techniques, and careful consideration of ethical and ecological consequences push science beyond its limits concerning de-extinction. The dream of bringing woolly mammoths back to life may still be far-fetched. Still, ongoing research and advancements in genetics are opening up new possibilities for better preserving and comprehending the planet’s biodiversity.

REFERENCES

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Hand, Carol. Reviving Extinct Species. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, 2018.

Sandler, Ronald. " The Ethics of Reviving Long Extinct Species." Conservation Biology 28, no. 2 (2014): 354-60.

Sherkow, Jacob S, and Henry T Greely. " What If Extinction Is Not Forever?". Science 340, no. 6128 (2013): 32-33.