RNA Has Been Recovered From an Extinct Species For the First Time (phys.org) 38
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Phys.Org: A new study shows the isolation and sequencing of more than a century-old RNA molecules from a Tasmanian tiger specimen preserved at room temperature in a museum collection. This resulted in the reconstruction of skin and skeletal muscle transcriptomes from an extinct species for the first time. The researchers note that their findings have relevant implications for international efforts to resurrect extinct species, including both the Tasmanian tiger and the wooly mammoth, as well as for studying pandemic RNA viruses. The findings have been published in the journal Genome Research.
Watch out... (Score:1)
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My favourite part was when he said the stock market would crash like you've never seen before [youtube.com], but then it didn't.
Re: Watch out... (Score:2)
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Nature findsâ" uhâ" a way.
So how's that iPhone working out again?
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In this case its a species they we did drive to extinction (at least a little faster - they probably were heading that direction anyways but we certainly sped up the process), so it'd be great if nature DID find a way in this case.
We do apparently have quite a few DNA samples of these animals though so if we can ever get good cloning capabilities it would be a prime candidate to ressurect.
Jurassic park (Score:2)
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You real.. argh fuck it.
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You don't spend much time in anti-vax circles, I get it.
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I watch a YouTube channel that translates Russian state TV sometimes. That's nothing. The constantly brag about how spectacularly powerful Russia is, how they're beating the "full might" of NATO, how the entire world is actually already part of Russia, how they should just nuke us all. The 'analysis' comes down to just saying practically random shit. Man, it's no wonder those people are insane.
If you've ever talked to a Russian (or Chinese) person outside of their home countries, most of them think thei
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If you've ever talked to a Russian (or Chinese) person outside of their home countries, most of them think their countries are democratic (albeit with long serving, but totally fairly elected presidents) and there are essentially no gays to speak of (but they're banned just in case).
The Russians I've talked to mostly left Russia when Putin came to power, and think none of those things.
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Yeah, those are the lucky ones, however even those have an incredibly rosy view about Russia's past.
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He was a plague. The missile was the cure.
Recently extinct. (Score:2)
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You expect them to run a marathon a week after they learned how to walk?
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Re:Recently extinct. (Score:5, Funny)
You expect them to run a marathon a week after they learned how to walk?
Chuck Norris could have, and come first.
Or at least come in first.
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A small but important distinction!
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Chuck would come first and come in first at the same time.
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I guess they didn't realize there'd be people who didn't understand it would have to be recent.
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Recovering RNA that's a century old is remarkable. RNA degrades pretty easily. Ask any molecular biologist who deals with it.
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It will kill you (Score:2)
Just like anything from the Australian area.
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Just like anything from the Australian area.
And remember, this one was too weak to survive that.
In Tasmania no less, the most sedate part.
Why bother? (Score:2)
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Just sell an NFT of the creature, then they can sell a link to a public picture of the same one over n over.
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Yes, they might be... in a protected national park reserve where hunting was disallowed.
The extinction of Thylacine is something Tasmanians feel a sense of loss that their ancestors lived in less enlightened colonial times with bounties put on a 'pest' species. The animal features on various logos and mascots throughout the state.
One can visit conservation reserves with not for profit breeding programs on the island for threatened marsupial species such as Tasmanian devils and quolls - cute little buggers b
How? RNA isn't stable! (Score:2)
I thought RNA is inherently unstable and survives for mere minutes before it breaks apart. How did we extract 100-year-old RNA stored at room temperature?
Other Considerations (Score:3)
I am still behind the idea of trying to bring back smaller species that had extinctions over the last century. While I would love to see a Wooly Mammoth, Tasmanian Tiger is far more realistic.
That being said, there are some groups working on trying to restore the passenger pigeon. I hope they are more successful as they are smaller and likely less difficult to get started.
Main topic (Score:1)