Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary reason for the extinction of the passenger pigeon?
What was the primary reason for the extinction of the passenger pigeon?
What is the closest living relative of the passenger pigeon?
What is the closest living relative of the passenger pigeon?
When does the conservation organization plan to start captive breeding of the passenger pigeon?
When does the conservation organization plan to start captive breeding of the passenger pigeon?
What was the last known specimen of the thylacine named?
What was the last known specimen of the thylacine named?
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By what year does Andrew J. Pask hope to create a fully functioning genome of the thylacine?
By what year does Andrew J. Pask hope to create a fully functioning genome of the thylacine?
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Which method involves using modern technology to resurrect the woolly mammoth?
Which method involves using modern technology to resurrect the woolly mammoth?
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How long ago did the woolly mammoth go extinct?
How long ago did the woolly mammoth go extinct?
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From which common ancestor did both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals evolve?
From which common ancestor did both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals evolve?
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What key challenge prevents cloning from being a viable option for reproducing the passenger pigeon?
What key challenge prevents cloning from being a viable option for reproducing the passenger pigeon?
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What is the primary focus of the conservation organization Revive & Restore regarding the passenger pigeon?
What is the primary focus of the conservation organization Revive & Restore regarding the passenger pigeon?
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What was the fate of the last known specimen of the thylacine?
What was the fate of the last known specimen of the thylacine?
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What is one of the proposed methods for resurrecting the woolly mammoth?
What is one of the proposed methods for resurrecting the woolly mammoth?
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Why is the cloning method for woolly mammoth resurrection currently impractical?
Why is the cloning method for woolly mammoth resurrection currently impractical?
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Which statement accurately describes the extinction of Neanderthals?
Which statement accurately describes the extinction of Neanderthals?
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What type of animal is the thylacine commonly known as?
What type of animal is the thylacine commonly known as?
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When was the full nuclear genome of the thylacine sequenced?
When was the full nuclear genome of the thylacine sequenced?
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What is a significant obstacle to cloning the passenger pigeon?
What is a significant obstacle to cloning the passenger pigeon?
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Which of the following statements accurately describes the plans for the woolly mammoth's resurrection?
Which of the following statements accurately describes the plans for the woolly mammoth's resurrection?
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Which factor contributed to the thylacine's decline before European arrival?
Which factor contributed to the thylacine's decline before European arrival?
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What is a major goal of the organization Revive & Restore?
What is a major goal of the organization Revive & Restore?
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When did the last known thylacine die?
When did the last known thylacine die?
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What sets the potential resurrection of the woolly mammoth apart from the passenger pigeon?
What sets the potential resurrection of the woolly mammoth apart from the passenger pigeon?
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What is a primary biological relationship between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals?
What is a primary biological relationship between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals?
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What timeline has been proposed for creating a fully functioning genome for the thylacine?
What timeline has been proposed for creating a fully functioning genome for the thylacine?
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Study Notes
Passenger Pigeon
- Passenger Pigeon, once a major population in North America, is extinct
- Extinction due to commercial hunting in the early 20th century
- Revive & Restore aims to bring the passenger pigeon back through genetic modification
- The organization plans to modify the DNA of the band-tailed pigeon, the closest living relative, to have the same traits as the passenger pigeon.
- This method involves identifying mutations in the DNA that cause phenotypic differences between the two pigeons.
- Captive breeding is planned for 2024, with a potential reintroduction to the wild in 2030
Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)
- Thylacine, a marsupial, was native to Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania.
- Population declined significantly before European arrival in Australia.
- In 1936, the last known thylacine, named Benjamin, died at the Hobart Zoo.
- In 2017, the full nuclear genome of the thylacine was sequenced.
- Andrew J. Pask, University of Melbourne, aims to create a fully functioning thylacine genome by 2027.
Woolly Mammoth
- Woolly mammoths went extinct around 1650 BCE, a time period after the construction of the Pyramids of Giza.
- Research teams from countries such as Japan and Russia are working on reviving the woolly mammoth.
- Cloning is not yet feasible due to the lack of sufficient DNA.
- More mammoth DNA is being discovered as permafrost recedes.
- Other proposed methods include artificial insemination using mammoth sperm and an Asian elephant mother, as well as gene migration from the mammoth genome into the genes of an Asian elephant.
Neanderthals
- Neanderthals are not our direct ancestors but rather shared a common ancestor, likely Homo heidelbergensis, with Homo sapiens (humans).
- Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago.
- Neanderthals interbred with Homo sapiens, and their DNA makes up 1% to 3% of modern human DNA outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Neanderthals were intelligent and skilled problem solvers.
- The ethical implications of bringing back Neanderthals are widely debated.
Passenger Pigeon
- Passenger Pigeons were once abundant in North America, but are now extinct due to commercial hunting in the early 20th century.
- While cloning is not feasible due to a lack of intact DNA, Revive & Restore is working to modify the DNA of the band-tailed pigeon (closest living relative) to have the same traits as the passenger pigeon.
- This process involves identifying mutations in the DNA responsible for phenotypic differences between the two species.
- The goal is to achieve captive breeding by 2024 and reintroduce the pigeons into the wild by 2030.
Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)
- The Thylacine, a marsupial, once inhabited Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania, but its population declined before European arrival.
- The last known specimen, Benjamin, died in 1936 at the Hobart Zoo.
- In 2017, the full nuclear genome of the thylacine was sequenced.
- The next step is to create a fully functioning genome by 2027.
Woolly Mammoth
- Woolly Mammoths went extinct around 1650 BCE, after the construction of the Pyramids of Giza.
- Research teams in Japan and Russia are exploring ways to resurrect the woolly mammoth.
- Cloning, requiring enough intact DNA, is not yet feasible but more DNA is being found as permafrost melts.
- Other methods include artificial insemination using mammoth sperm and an Asian elephant mother, and gene migration from the mammoth genome into the genes of an Asian elephant.
Neanderthals
- Neanderthals and Homo sapiens evolved from a common ancestor, likely Homo heidelbergensis.
- Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago, but interbred with Homo sapiens.
- Neanderthal DNA makes up 1% to 3% of modern human DNA outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
- While Neanderthals were intelligent and capable problem-solvers, there are ethical concerns about bringing them back.
Passenger Pigeon
- Passenger pigeons once roamed North American skies in massive numbers but are now extinct.
- Revive & Restore, a conservation non-profit organization, is working to bring back the passenger pigeon by modifying the DNA of its closest living relative, the band-tailed pigeon.
- Revive & Restore aims to start captive breeding in 2024 and reintroduce the passenger pigeon to the wild in 2030.
The Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)
- The thylacine, a marsupial, was once found in Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania.
- The last known thylacine, named Benjamin, died in 1936.
- The full nuclear genome of the thylacine was sequenced in 2017.
- Scientists aim to create a fully functioning thylacine genome by 2027.
Woolly Mammoth
- Woolly mammoths went extinct around 1650 BCE, a time after the Pyramids of Giza were built.
- Researchers are investigating ways to resurrect the woolly mammoth, but cloning is not yet feasible due to insufficient DNA.
- Other methods being explored include artificial insemination and gene migration from mammoth DNA into the genes of Asian elephants.
Neanderthals
- Neanderthals are an extinct human species, not our ancestors.
- Both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals evolved from a common ancestor, likely Homo heidelbergensis.
- Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago but interbred with Homo sapiens.
- Neanderthal DNA is present in modern humans outside of sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 1% to 3% of our DNA.
- Ethical concerns arise about the potential resurrection of Neanderthals.
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Description
Explore the fascinating histories of the Passenger Pigeon and Thylacine, two species that faced extinction due to human impact. Learn about efforts to revive these species through genetic modification and genomic studies. This quiz will test your knowledge on their backgrounds, causes of extinction, and conservation efforts.
