Australian scientists have joined forces with a U.S.-based biotechnology firm to help speed up efforts to bring back the Australian marsupial high predator, the thylacine (also known as the Tasmanian leopard).
The University of Melbourne’s Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab is home to the Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Lab. ReceivedIn March, a $5 million philanthropic donation was made to Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences. This partnership has led to the most significant step forward in marsupial conservation efforts. According toUniversity of Melbourne
In 1936, the last Tasmanian tiger in captivity died and was officially declared extinct. The animal went extinct mainly due to the bounties placed on them by humans. Because of their carnivorous nature, Tasmanian tigers were considered a threat to livestock. The animals were driven from their land by increased hunting, which eventually led to their extinction. According to Colossal.
Why is de-extinction so important? Colossal says that as an apex predator, Tasmanian tigers played a huge role in trophic downgrading, but since they no longer play their important role in the ecosystem, cascading effects on the food chain can lead to catastrophes including diseases, wildfires and the introduction of invasive species.
Through their partnership, Australian and American scientists are allowing each other access to resources such as the CRISPR DNA editing technology, propelling the research far beyond of what was previously thought capable.
“A lot of the challenges with our efforts can be overcome by an army of scientists working on the same problems simultaneously, conducting and collaborating on the many experiments to accelerate discoveries,” Professor Andrew Pask, head of the TIGRR lab, told the University of Melbourne’s Newsroom. “With this partnership, I now believe that in ten years’ time we could have our first living baby thylacine since they were hunted to extinction close to a century ago.”
According to Colossal, Pask and his laboratory were able use a preserved DNA specimen from 108 years ago to sequence the animal’s genome.
Scientists hope to edit similar living cells with the help of the sequenced genomes of the Tasmanian and Tasmanian tigers, as well as efforts to sequence those of another similar animal known, the fat tailed dinnart. This will allow them to recreate Tasmanian Tiger cells. According to The Guardian.
“The Tassie Tiger’s extinction had a devastating effect on our ecosystem and we are thrilled to support the revolutionary conservation efforts that are being made by Dr. Pask and the entire Colossal team,”According to Colossal, Chris Hemsworth is a Colossal actor, activist, and investor.