News Life

Reviving extinct DNA

In a first for science, a snippet of genetic code from long-gone species is inserted in mice and shown to work

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Tasmanian tigers are back. Sort of. A small bit of the extinct marsupial’s DNA is alive and well in the cells of some genetically engineered mice.

Scientists in Australia and Texas have resurrected part of the extinct Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine. A piece of DNA from the thylacine was inserted into mice where it drives production of a marker gene (blue). The thylacine DNA turns on the marker in cells that produce cartilage.
MOUSE WITH TIGER Scientists in Australia and Texas have resurrected part of the extinct Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine.