The concept of “de-extinction” may sound amusing, but it’s a term that might become more common in the future. The idea of reviving extinct species like in the movie “Jurassic Park” is actually taking place in Australia. However, don’t expect to see a resurrected T-Rex anytime soon. Instead, researchers are focusing on de-extincting the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf. The last confirmed thylacine, named Benjamin, died in an Australian zoo in 1936, while the last one seen in the wild was killed seven years prior.
Thylacines were apex predators with a striped dog-like appearance and powerful jaws that could open wide. Unfortunately, their journey on Earth was a challenging one. Human population growth and climate change likely pushed them out of their original habitat in mainland Australia around 3,000 years ago. Some believe that the rise of dingo populations made it even harder for thylacines to survive. By the 1930s, these unique creatures could only be found on the island of Tasmania, where they were mercilessly hunted by sheep farmers after European settlement in the 18th century.
Benjamin’s death marked the end of an era, but it hasn’t stopped people from hopeful speculation. Numerous unconfirmed sightings have been reported to the Australian and Tasmanian governments, suggesting that perhaps the thylacine hasn’t completely vanished. As a result, a team called the Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research (TIGRR) Lab at the University of Melbourne is now working on de-extincting the thylacine using scientific methods.
To bring back the Tasmanian tiger, genetic engineering techniques are required, specifically “gene editing.” Rather than resorting to cloning, scientists plan to combine thylacine cells with stem cells from a close relative called a dunnart, a mouse-like marsupial. This combination would create an embryo that could be implanted into a female marsupial of a species closer in size to the thylacine, such as a quoll. The newborn would be raised by scientists until old enough to survive in the wild. The reason why the thylacine is a top candidate for de-extinction is that its habitat remains mostly intact, unlike many other extinct species whose habitats have been destroyed.
Andrew Pask, the lead researcher of the TIGRR project, stated that although their ultimate goal is to bring back the thylacine, they will apply their advancements to conservation science immediately. This includes using stem cells, gene editing, and surrogacy in breeding programs to protect other marsupials from suffering the same fate as the Tasmanian tiger. The potential of bringing the thylacine back to life brings hope to conservation efforts and raises exciting possibilities for the future.
Interestingly, some naturalists observed that thylacines occasionally adopted a bipedal stance, using their hind legs to walk or hop, similar to kangaroos.