A scientific breakthrough may lead to the revival of the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, an apex predator that went extinct nearly a century ago. Researchers from the United States and Australia have successfully sequenced the animal’s DNA to 99.9% accuracy, a milestone in their efforts to bring the species back to life. The team, led by Colossal Biosciences, believes the advancements in genetic engineering could enable the thylacine’s return to the wild in the coming years.

What Is the Tasmanian Tiger?

The thylacine was a wolf-like marsupial native to Tasmania, mainland Australia, and New Guinea. About the size of a Labrador, it was the largest carnivorous marsupial of its time, playing the role of an apex predator in Tasmania’s ecosystem. Despite its name, the animal was not closely related to tigers but earned the nickname due to its striped back.

The thylacine’s most distinctive features were its powerful jaw, capable of opening nearly 120 degrees, and its pouch, a trait it shared with kangaroos. Its disappearance left Tasmania without a large native predator, impacting the island’s delicate ecological balance.

Why Did It Go Extinct?

The thylacine went extinct primarily due to human activity. As European settlers expanded into Tasmania in the 1800s, the growing livestock industry viewed the thylacine as a threat to sheep and cattle. A government-sponsored bounty on the animal led to widespread hunting, severely depleting its population. The last known thylacine died in captivity at Hobart Zoo in 1936, though isolated reports of sightings continued into the 20th century.

Disease and habitat loss further hastened the species’ extinction. Unfortunately, by the time conservation efforts were considered, it was too late for the thylacine.

The De-extinction Project: How They Plan to Bring It Back

Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based company specializing in de-extinction, has been at the forefront of resurrecting extinct species. Known for their ambitious projects to revive the woolly mammoth and the dodo, the company has now turned its attention to the thylacine.

The team’s approach involves using gene-editing technologies like CRISPR to incorporate the thylacine’s DNA into the genome of a closely related species. In this case, they aim to edit the genome of the numbat, a small marsupial native to Australia that shares some biological similarities with the thylacine. The 99.9% accurate DNA sequence will be used to create a living thylacine embryo, which can then be implanted into a surrogate animal to develop naturally.

Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer, described the DNA sample they worked with as one of the best-preserved ancient specimens her team has ever used, allowing them to push the limits of ancient DNA extraction and sequencing technology.

What Impact Could This Have on the Present?

The potential revival of the thylacine could spark significant debate in scientific and ethical circles. On one hand, reintroducing the species might restore ecological balance in Tasmania, where the loss of the thylacine left a gap in the food chain. Apex predators play crucial roles in controlling prey populations and maintaining biodiversity. If successful, the reintroduction could help manage invasive species and reduce the pressure on endangered native species.

However, there are concerns about the unintended consequences of de-extinction. Introducing a species that has been absent for nearly a century into modern ecosystems could disrupt the current balance, posing risks to existing wildlife and agriculture. Some experts also question whether reviving a species in this manner is truly ethical, given the complex challenges in ensuring the welfare of the animals and the practicalities of maintaining a stable population.

Colossal’s de-extinction efforts also raise broader questions about whether resources should be directed toward preserving endangered species rather than bringing back extinct ones. Nevertheless, the scientific breakthroughs made in the thylacine project could open the door to unprecedented possibilities in genetic research, conservation, and biodiversity management.

As the thylacine inches closer to resurrection, the world watches with a mix of excitement and caution. If successful, the revival of this iconic marsupial may not only redefine the limits of science but also reshape the future of species conservation.