Cloning the Extinct Tasmanian Tiger
Geneticists have cloned sheep, horses, cats and dogs. The next step it seems is to bring back the dead. Scientists are currently working on resurrecting through cloning an animal extinct since 1936. The Australian Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, was hunted to extinction 73 years ago, but now geneticists think they can bring back the fierce predator using DNA from stuffed museum specimens.
"Bringing back an extinct creature would unlock the door to progress.
Who knows what other 'impossible' things may be on the other side?"
~Michael Archer
Cloning Project Background
The project is headed by evolutionary biologist Michael Archer, dean of science at the University of New South Wales in Australia. In collaboration with colleagues at Australian universities and U.S. genetics labs, Archer hoped to bring this carnivourous marsupial back from extinction using DNA from an infant female preserved in alcohol since 1866.Part of the difficulty lies in restoring the degraded DNA, in fact Archer's first team failed to extract quality DNA from the infant female and the project was scrapped in February 2005. But with a new team, new technology and a new strategy to recover genes from the bones and teeth of thylacines in museum specimens the project was revived again in October 2005.
If Archer's new team can figure out how to restore degraded DNA there is a chance the Tasmanian tiger could live again. What's next...the Woolly Mammoth? Actually that's not so far fetched...in fact there are projects underway to clone the mammoth as well as the Spanish bucardo goat.
How to Clone an Extinct Animal
- Obtain Sample DNA:
Find cells from the animal's tissue, bones, teeth, hair, etc.. Then extract the DNA from the cell's nucleus. - Rebuild Genome:
Reassemble the DNA of the extinct animal using the genome of a related living animal as a guide. In the tiger's case that is the Tasmanian devil. - Swap DNA:
Remove the ovarian eggs of the related animal and replace their nuclei with the restored genetic material from the extinct animal. - Zap the Eggs:
Fuse the nuclei with the eggs and trigger cell devision by shocking them with electric current or treating them with chemicals. - Implant the Embryos:
When the embyos have grown to 200 cells in size transfer them into the womb of the related animal for gestation. - Delivery:
The surrogate mother gives birth. The extinct species is reborn once again. It is scientists hope that the necessary survival skills will be coded into its genes.
Further Reading About the Tasmanian Tiger
Tasmanian Tiger: The Tragic Tale of How the World Lost Its Most Mysterious Predator
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Amazon Price: $17.00 (as of 07/10/2009) 
Carnivorous Nights: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger
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Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 07/10/2009)
The Last Tasmanian Tiger: The History and Extinction of the Thylacine
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Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 07/10/2009)
Woolly Mammoth: Back Again?
Jarkov mammoth may be the key
In 1999, French polar explorer Bernard Buigues and mammoth experts Dick Mol and Larry Agenbroad unearthed a 23,000 pound block of permafrost containing the remains of a woolly mammoth near the Bolchaya Balakhnya River in Siberia.Scientists were hopeful that the block of frozen earth would yield an intact mammoth carcass. The possibility led a number of genetic research facilities around the world to propose extracting DNA from the soft tissues of the extinct creature with the goal of cloning it back to life.
Unfortunately for those scientists interested in cloning the mammoth there was very little soft tissue and bone remaining. As in the case of the Tasmanian tiger there was just too little quality DNA to give cloning much of a chance.
But if scientists can discover a technique to restore degraded DNA the first major hurdle in cloning the mammoth will be overcome. That would just leave several other unknown factors including the gestation period of the mammoth. Will it match that of the Asian elephant, the mammoth's closest living relative? Not to mention there is a bit of a size difference between the woolly mammoth and the Asian elephant; what kind of problems will this cause for the surrogate mother?
All in all the odds are currently stacked against a successful clone, but with the ever expanding developments in genetics some day in the next 20-30 years there might just be woolly mammoth rides at your local zoo.
Woolly Mammoth Fact and Fiction
More info on the woolly mammoth for your reading pleasure
Wild and Woolly Mammoths: Revised Edition (Trophy Picture Books)
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Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Uncovering the Mysterious Woolly Mammoth
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Amazon Price: $10.87 (as of 07/10/2009)
Woolly Mammoth (Pebble Plus: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals)
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Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/10/2009)
What should we do about cloning?
With each breakthrough in cloning research comes increased controversy. Should we be messing with nature? On one hand there may be a great number of discoveries that lead to better health or the preservation of endangered species, on the other hand there is a great moral dilemma involved when anyone mentions human cloning.
Join the Cloning Debate
Let the battle begin!
Since I've created this little page on cloning extinct animals I've had some comments from several people voicing their opinion on the merits or morals of cloning. And the above poll results show that not everyone is very keen on the idea of cloning especially when it involves human cloning.
So let's start a little debate so all voices can be heard. Is cloning the future and will it lead to many improvements in life? Or, is cloning something better left alone, something that may lead to the end of humans on earth?
How do you feel about cloning?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byCloning is the future deal with it!
The_Goblins_Den says:
Like it or not, I believe cloning will become an important part of our future society. It's probably not a good a idea to go and resurrect every animal from Earth's past...but if it can be done, you can bet someone will do it.
Posted July 08, 2009
Rylan says:
Cloning could save human and animal lives alike. I think it along with stem cell research is perfectly fine.
Posted May 20, 2009
the FUTURE says:
Cloning is a necessary thing the humans will have to prepare for. It could save the food supply for the future, provide organs to those who need it. It coud also be used to save an extinct species if it is perfected enough- like to save dinosaurs, mammoths or dragons- lol
Posted May 11, 2009
Human Being says:
Those who desire to retard and hinder our most productive natural resource, the thinking human mind, are fools. Science will take us wherever we have the courage to follow it. Critics who lash out at science while using the Internet to do so are just sad . . . and funny. But mostly sad.
There should be no artificial limit placed on knowledge, only a natural limit.
Posted April 22, 2009
NAtional Geo reader says:
WOw, to think one day the zoos would have wooly mammoth rides and sabbertooth tiger exibits is like my birthday wish came true. Now all the kids of the future might still see a polar bear or might even see something we never got to see like a dino.
Posted April 19, 2009
Cloning is an unnatural abomination!
Science Hater says:
Cloning's wrong and god said in the bible that it ain't easy to clone no mammel and it sure ain't wright (Zachariah 7:32). I believe in jesus and that makes me distrust science cause jesus wasn't no scientist.
Also I live in a mobile home community, wear sleeveless t-shirts, and engage in the recreational usage of methamphetamines - so I don't know if that skews my perspective a bit or not. I do think I'm fairly representational of the typical anti-cloning proponent.
Posted April 22, 2009
lesily says:
only god can create pefectly
Posted March 25, 2009
Ariel linton says:
if every one in an area has the same genetic make up then a single disease could wipe out a huge amount of the population
Posted March 16, 2009
Ariel linton says:
Cloning is wrong it is not our job to play God. Under developed kideys large tounges and squished faces are side affects of clones. Clones suffer if we make mistakes. STOP THE CLONING!!!!
Posted March 16, 2009
Colton says:
Cloning Human beings is extremely pointless. I really dont see why we need to do it! cloning organs is fine, but not cloning humans to harvest their organs!!
Posted December 02, 2008
More Info on Woolly Mammoth and Thylacine Cloning
Tasmanian Tigers and Woolly Mammoths galore!
- Tasmanian Tiger Cloning Breakthrough
- An article from the Australian Museum Online written in 2002 about Micheal Archer's Tasmanian Tiger cloning project.
- Tasmanian Tiger Sightings
- Just like stories of the Loch Ness monster or Big Foot, the thought to be extinct Tasmanian tiger enjoys similar notoriety in Australia. Here are several articles of Tasmanian tiger sightings, as well as more articles on the cloning efforts.
- A Natural History of the Tasmanian Tiger
- The online Thylacine Museum, an educational guide to the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger. Tons of information covering virtually all aspects of the natural history of this unique Australian marsupial. A very comprehensive resource for those interested in the Tasmanian tiger.
- Will the Mammoth Walk Again?
- A Discovery Channel article about the discovery of the Jarkov mammoth and attempts to clone it.
- Mammoth Cloning
- An article stating some background on the woolly mammoth as well as the difficulties involved with cloning one.
Cloning Books and Resources
More information for your cloning research
Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3-Volume Set)
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Amazon Price: $233.10 (as of 07/10/2009)
Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis: An Introduction
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Amazon Price: $58.77 (as of 07/10/2009)
Condensed Protocols from Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual
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Amazon Price: $89.10 (as of 07/10/2009)
New Scientific American
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What Bloggers are Saying About Cloning
more fuel for the cloning controversy
- The Benefits of Human Cloning | Raitucarp Magazine
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A Lens of the Day Selection
9/28/06
A Thank you to the fine people of Squidoo for choosing this lens as Lens of the Day on September 28th 2006. And to the many readers who have graced this lens with their curiosity - may you all be cloned and visit again, and again. Reader Feedback
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del.icio.us , Digg , or Stumble Upon!
AlishaV wrote...
Great lens! I've been interested in cloning ever since I realized that we are losing species of animals and plants every single day and without cloning, those wonderful species would be gone forever.
Posted January 27, 2009
susannaduffy wrote...
Excellent lens! Informative and thought provoking on a sensitive topic. Five high stars of course and linked as featured lens, as well as lensrolled, to my thylacine (tasmanian-tiger)
Posted December 09, 2008
Margaret_Schaut wrote...
I'm featuring your page on Squidoo-It-All! Great page!
Posted October 19, 2007
by Rusty-Quill
Artist, writer, and web developer who dabbles in the art of dabbling... in other words "I live in a van down by the river."
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