"CRISPR Advances: Reviving Extinct Animals with De-Extinction Technology"

Researchers are exploring the possibility of "de-extincting" the Tasmanian tiger, also known as the thylacine, using genetic engineering and CRISPR technology. The goal is not to create an exact replica of the extinct species, but to create a proxy that can fill its ecological role in the Australian ecosystem. By sequencing the genome of the thylacine and editing the DNA of a similar living species, such as the fat-tailed dunnart, researchers hope to create a Tasmanian tiger-like cell that can be implanted into a surrogate mother. While the process is still in its early stages, the potential benefits of restoring keystone species like the thylacine to their ecosystems make the effort worthwhile.