Podcast
Questions and Answers
What animal is the focus of the Quagga Project?
What animal is the focus of the Quagga Project?
Which extinct animal was known to roam the southern tip of Africa?
Which extinct animal was known to roam the southern tip of Africa?
What is the primary method being used to attempt to revive the aurochs?
What is the primary method being used to attempt to revive the aurochs?
What caused the extinction of the Pyrenean ibex?
What caused the extinction of the Pyrenean ibex?
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Which of the following animals is NOT mentioned as potentially being revived?
Which of the following animals is NOT mentioned as potentially being revived?
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What were the Rau quaggas derived from?
What were the Rau quaggas derived from?
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Which two projects aim to revive the aurochs using selective breeding?
Which two projects aim to revive the aurochs using selective breeding?
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How many individuals have been bred that are almost identical to the original quagga?
How many individuals have been bred that are almost identical to the original quagga?
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What was unique about the physical appearance of the quagga compared to other zebras?
What was unique about the physical appearance of the quagga compared to other zebras?
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Which project is known for using genome editing in an attempt to revive the aurochs?
Which project is known for using genome editing in an attempt to revive the aurochs?
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What caused the extinction of the Pyrenean ibex?
What caused the extinction of the Pyrenean ibex?
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Which statement about the Rau quaggas is correct?
Which statement about the Rau quaggas is correct?
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What was the original purpose of the Heck cattle breeding program?
What was the original purpose of the Heck cattle breeding program?
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What is a common outcome of the projects attempting to revive extinct species?
What is a common outcome of the projects attempting to revive extinct species?
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Which extinct animal was native to Eurasia, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent during the Pleistocene era?
Which extinct animal was native to Eurasia, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent during the Pleistocene era?
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What year was the last Pyrenean ibex, named Celia, tagged and collared?
What year was the last Pyrenean ibex, named Celia, tagged and collared?
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What distinguishes Rau quaggas from the original quagga?
What distinguishes Rau quaggas from the original quagga?
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Which circumstance is thought to have played a significant role in the extinction of megafauna?
Which circumstance is thought to have played a significant role in the extinction of megafauna?
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What is a notable challenge faced in resurrecting the aurochs?
What is a notable challenge faced in resurrecting the aurochs?
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What modern technique aims to assist in the revival of the aurochs apart from selective breeding?
What modern technique aims to assist in the revival of the aurochs apart from selective breeding?
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In which time frame did the Pyrenean ibex go extinct?
In which time frame did the Pyrenean ibex go extinct?
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What action was taken regarding the last Pyrenean ibex named Celia?
What action was taken regarding the last Pyrenean ibex named Celia?
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How did scientists initially attempt to bring back the aurochs?
How did scientists initially attempt to bring back the aurochs?
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Why is the Quagga Project significant in the conversation of de-extinction?
Why is the Quagga Project significant in the conversation of de-extinction?
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Study Notes
The Quagga
- The quagga was a subspecies of plains zebra that lived in the southern tip of Africa
- The Quagga Project aims to bring the quagga back to life
- The quagga has stripes on its head and the front half of its body and is brown on the rear half
- Scientists have suggested that Quaggas could be re-bred via selective breeding since the 1950s
- Mitochondrial DNA proved that the quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra in 1980
- Nine zebras were selected for breeding in 1987
- Six individuals are almost identical to the original quagga and are known as Rau quaggas
Aurochs
- The Aurochs was a massive species of cattle that lived in Eurasia, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent during the Pleistocene era
- The first attempt to bring back the aurochs started in the 1930s by Heinz and Lutz Heck
- Heinz and Lutz Heck selectively bred cattle to bring back the aurochs and created "Heck cattle" that differed significantly from the original aurochs
- The Tauros Programme, the Taurus Project, and the Uruz Project aim to bring back the aurochs
- The Tauros Programme and the Taurus Project use selective breeding to revive the aurochs
- The Uruz Project by the True Nature Foundation uses genome editing to revive the aurochs
Pyrenean Ibex
- The Pyrenean ibex was a subspecies of the Spanish ibex
- The Pyrenean Ibex became extinct due to overhunting
- In 1999 the last Pyrenean Ibex, a female named Celia, was collared and tagged.
- A tissue sample was taken from Celia and she was released back into the wild
- Celia was found dead a year later
- Scientists used the tissue sample from Celia to clone the Pyrenean Ibex in 2003
- The clone was born with a lung defect and lived for only seven minutes
- The experiment was deemed a success in bringing the Pyrenean Ibex back to life
- Scientists are planning to breed future clones with the Southeastern Spanish ibex to create a hybrid that could be further bred to resemble the Pyrenean Ibex
De-Extinction Efforts
- Scientists are currently working to resurrect several extinct animals, using technologies like cloning and selective breeding.
The Quagga
- The Quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra that lived in the southern tip of Africa
- It was distinct due to its striped head and front half of its body, with a brown rear half.
- The Quagga Project aims to revive the species through selective breeding, using plains zebras.
- In 1987, nine zebras were selected for breeding.
- Six individuals, known as Rau quaggas, are believed to closely resemble the original Quagga.
Aurochs
- Aurochs were a massive species of cattle that roamed Eurasia, North Africa, and India during the Pleistocene era.
- Early attempts to revive the species, initiated in the 1930s, resulted in the "Heck cattle," which differed from the original Aurochs.
- The Tauros Programme, Taurus Project, and Uruz Project utilize both selective breeding and genome editing techniques to bring back the Aurochs.
Pyrenean Ibex
- The Pyrenean Ibex was a subspecies of the Spanish ibex that became extinct in the 20th century due to overhunting.
- In 2003, scientists cloned the last known Pyrenean ibex, Celia using her tissue sample.
- The clone, however, lived for only seven minutes due to a lung defect.
- Further efforts to bring back the Pyrenean Ibex involve breeding future clones with the Southeastern Spanish ibex.
Animals Considered for De-extinction
- The text focuses on the Quagga, Aurochs, and Pyrenean Ibex as animals scientists are attempting to resurrect.
The Quagga
- The Quagga Project is focused on reviving this distinct subspecies of plains zebra.
- The Quagga Project has used selective breeding starting in the 1980s.
- Rau Quaggas are individuals bred to resemble the original Quagga and are considered nearly identical.
The Aurochs
- A massive cattle species, called the Aurochs, existed in Eurasia, North Africa, and India during the Pleistocene era.
- Heinz and Lutz Heck attempted to breed the Aurochs back using selective breeding in the 1930s.
- The Tauros Programme, Taurus Project, and Uruz Project are all pursuing different methods to bring Aurochs back, including selective breeding and genome editing.
The Pyrenean Ibex
- The Pyrenean Ibex is extinct, with the last known individual, Celia, dying in 1999.
- Celia's tissue sample was used to clone the Pyrenean Ibex in 2003.
- The clone, although living for only seven minutes, was considered a significant breakthrough.
- The use of goats as surrogate mothers in the cloning effort was successful.
- The lack of male DNA poses a future challenge, and scientists plan to utilize the Southeastern Spanish ibex to create hybrid offspring.
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Description
Explore the fascinating stories of the quagga and aurochs, two remarkable animals that once roamed the Earth. Discover the attempts to bring them back through selective breeding and the science behind their classification. This quiz will test your knowledge about these extinct species and their histories.
