"RNA Extraction Breakthrough: Tasmanian Tiger Becomes First Extinct Species to Yield Genetic Material"

Scientists have successfully extracted RNA from the skin and muscle of a 132-year-old Tasmanian tiger, making it the first extinct animal from which RNA has been recovered. The recovery of RNA from extinct animals like the thylacine could provide valuable insights into gene activity and the biology of extinct species. RNA sequences reveal which genes are actually active and used to make proteins inside cells. This breakthrough could aid in ongoing efforts to resurrect the thylacine and also help detect the presence of different RNA viruses through time, accelerating our understanding of viral evolution.