A groundbreaking US-backed project aims to resurrect the extinct Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, potentially returning it to the wild within eight years. In collaboration with the University of Melbourne, researchers have successfully mapped the complete DNA of the thylacine. They plan to modify the DNA of a close relative, the dunnart, to recreate this iconic marsupial.
Lead scientist Professor Andrew Pask has announced that they have sequenced every aspect of the thylacine genome and developed key stem cells necessary for the genetic engineering process. The technologies created during this research are also being applied to current conservation efforts for other marsupials.
The initiative is supported by the US biotech firm Colossal Biosciences, which is collaborating with 60 Australian scientists to make this ambitious revival a reality. Leaders from the Tasmanian Thylacine Advisory Committee recently visited the labs to discuss the potential for reintroducing the thylacine into its native habitat, which has been devoid of the species since 1936.
Michelle Dracoulis, chair of the advisory committee and Mayor of Derwent Valley, expressed the cultural significance of the thylacine in Tasmania. It remains an integral part of local identity and is widely represented in marketing and media. The progress made by scientists evokes deep emotional resonance, bringing hope to many who feel connected to the legacy of this unique animal.
The collaboration not only aims to restore the thylacine but also generates advancements in conservation technology that can benefit other endangered species. The prospect of bringing the thylacine back to the wild is an extraordinary scientific achievement, illustrating the potential for modern biotechnology to reshape our ecological landscape.