Back from the Brink: The Science and Ethics of De-Extinction
- shauryagautam
- Sep 20
- 2 min read
Imagine a tusked, hairy behemoth wandering the tundra. Despite being extinct for more than 4,000 years, the woolly mammoth may not always be seen in museum exhibits and Ice Age films. The technique of de-extinction, or reviving extinct species, is being investigated by scientists thanks to advances in genetic engineering. Though, does that mean we should,
just because we can?
Mammoth cloning from frozen remains is not the goal of de-extinction. Researchers like Dr. George Church of Harvard, on the other hand, are splicing mammoth DNA into the genome of the Asian elephant, its closest living relative, using CRISPR gene-editing. With the help of an artificial womb, the end is result is a hybrid species that has mammoth characteristics like thick fur and resilience to the cold.
This goes beyond science fiction. Other species, such as the Tasmanian tiger and the Passenger pigeon, are being revived using similar methods. It is hoped that by rewilding tundra, these "proxy species" could aid in the restoration of lost ecosystems or even fight climate change.
The ethics are complicated, even while the science is fascinating. These are some important queries:
Should we spend money on bringing back extinct species when thousands of live ones are in danger of going extinct? "Shouldn't we be focusing on things that are still alive?" asks Dr. Beth Shapiro.
Animal Welfare: How would a mammoth raised in a lab live its life? Would it experience social isolation or health problems?
Impact on the Environment: Reintroducing extinct species may cause problems for contemporary ecosystems. Mammoths would reside where? Would they face competition from current wildlife?
Stewart Brand and other proponents contend that de-extinction could transform conservation. Tools for gene editing created for extinct species may also be able to save endangered ones. Others warn, however, that this futuristic solution would divert attention from the need for immediate environmental action now.
De-extinction ultimately compels us to consider the world we wish to create. One in which we preserve what we have left, or one in which we rebuild what we have lost?
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