De-extinction of Dodo and Woolly Mammoth

Dodo De-extinction

• The dodo, a flightless bird native to Mauritius, is an iconic symbol of extinction.
• Dodos were driven to extinction within decades due to human activity and introduced species, such as rats.
• Scientist Beth Shapiro has sequenced the complete genome of the dodo from ancient DNA.
• The next step is to compare the dodo genome with its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon, and the extinct Rodrigues solitaire.
• The goal is to create a new dodo with adaptations to modern ecosystems, not a replica of the original.
• Shapiro plans to implant dodo embryos in modern relatives to produce hybrid offspring with resilience and immunity.

Woolly Mammoth De-extinction

• Woolly mammoths, large mammals that roamed Eurasia and North America, went extinct around 10,000 years ago due to climate change and human hunting.
• Colossal, a biotech company, aims to bring back the woolly mammoth by 2027 using gene editing techniques.
• They plan to reintroduce mammoths to Siberia to combat climate change.
• Woolly mammoths share 99.6% of their DNA with Asian elephants, their closest living relative.
• The plan involves implanting mammoth embryos into surrogate African elephants.
• The research aims to restore the Arctic tundra and rebuild the Mammoth Steppe, an ecosystem that existed during the Ice Age.
• Proponents argue that mammoths could help slow Arctic permafrost melt by converting shrub forests into grasslands.
• Critics argue that the mammoths may not exhibit the same behavior as their ancestors and will face challenges in a different ecosystem.
• Concerns also exist regarding the logistical challenges of creating a large herd for significant ecological impact.

Dodo

• The dodo is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to Mauritius.
• It was hunted to extinction by humans and introduced species like rats.
• Scientist Beth Shapiro is leading a project to de-extinct the dodo.
• The first step was to fully sequence the dodo's genome from ancient DNA.
• The next step is to compare the dodo's genome with its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon.
• The goal is not to bring back the "old" dodo but to create a new one with traits that help it adapt to the modern environment.
• Shapiro plans to plant the dodo egg inside modern relatives to give birth to new dodo hybrids.

Woolly Mammoth

• The woolly mammoth became extinct around 10,000 years ago due to climate change and hunting by humans.
• Colossal, a US biotech company, aims to bring back the woolly mammoth by 2027 through gene editing.
• Woolly mammoths share 99.6% of their genes with Asian elephants.
• Colossal plans to implant a woolly mammoth embryo in a surrogate African elephant.
• Proponents believe that mammoths can help fight climate change by restoring the Arctic tundra.
• They argue that mammoths would help slow the melting of permafrost, preventing greenhouse gas emissions and restoring the Mammoth Steppe ecosystem.
• Critics argue that de-extinct mammoths will have different behavior and won't thrive in the modern ecosystem.
• They also state that a significant herd size would be required for a meaningful impact, which is unlikely to be achieved.

Dodo

• The dodo is a flightless giant bird that lived in Southeast Asia, mainly in Mauritius.
• The dodo went extinct in just a few decades due to human activities and introduced species like rats.
• Scientist Beth Shapiro is leading efforts to de-extinct the dodo by sequencing its genome using ancient DNA.
• Shapiro aims to create a hybrid dodo species with traits that promote adaptation to modern environments.
• The project involves comparing dodo DNA to its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon, and the extinct Rodrigues solitaire.
• Shapiro plans to implant dodo embryos in modern relatives, potentially leading to the birth of new dodo hybrids.
• The objective is not to replicate the original dodo but to create a new species with resilience to current ecological challenges.

Woolly Mammoth

• The woolly mammoth inhabited Eurasia and North America.
• They became extinct roughly 10,000 years ago due to climate change and human hunting.
• Colossal, a US biotech company, is attempting to bring back the woolly mammoth by 2027 through gene editing.
• They plan to reintroduce mammoths to Siberia, Russia, in an effort to combat climate change.
• The woolly mammoth shares 99.6% of its genes with the Asian elephant, its closest relative.
• Scientists believe that mammoths could help restore the Arctic tundra by slowing permafrost melting, preventing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting natural Arctic grasslands.
• The project relies on advanced gene-editing techniques, particularly CRISPR editing.
• The mammoth embryos would be implanted into surrogate African elephants for birth.
• Critics argue that while genetically similar, the de-extinct mammoths would lack the same behaviors and would not be living in their original ice-age environment.
• The need for large herds to have a significant impact raises logistical challenges.