Part 3/7:
The process begins with extracting well-preserved DNA samples from extinct species, such as the woolly mammoth or the Tasmanian tiger (also known as the thylacine). Scientists then sequence this DNA to assemble a complete genome. This genetic blueprint provides the foundation for recreating the species’ characteristics.
Using CRISPR, researchers can edit the genome of a closely related living species. For example, in attempting to re-create the Tasmanian tiger, scientists might modify a dog or a close marsupial to introduce genetic traits of the extinct species. Rather than an exact replica, the goal is to develop a “proxy”—an organism that can fill the ecological role previously held by the extinct animal, thereby aiding in ecosystem restoration.