Q: Why not clone extinct species fr

Q: Why not clone extinct species from their DNA codes?

Jurassic Park is a movie—it’s not possible in real life.

But, just for fun, let’s bring back the Tasmanian tiger, or Tasmanian wolf if you prefer—real name thylacine (THIGH-luh-sign). Last known survivor, shown here, died in Hobart Zoo in 1936.


A baby specimen was preserved in alcohol in 1866, rather than DNA-destroying formalin, and rests on a shelf in the Australian Museum. Offering the pickled, pouched mammal for research, director Mike Archer, envisions thylacines as pets within 50 years.

First, the DNA has to be decoded. No problem, with a big enough grant, but that’s as far as we’ll get.

Enough species which used to live in and on the thylacine must also be recreated from their DNA. Being microscopic and extinct is a good way to keep from being found and decoded. Some species of bacteria, which are similar enough to get the thylacine’s food digested, might exist in another carnivorous marsupial—now where did they all get to?

Which brings up another obstacle: who’s the mommy? When daddy Frankenstein breathes life into the accurately-DNA-encoded glob of inert ingredients, it then has to grow inside an adult. In this case, one with a nice warm pouch is preferred. Maybe a kangaroo will do, if our tiger cub doesn’t bite too much.

So, assuming we’ve overcome those little details: got 10 or 20 micro organisms recreated and kicking, found a way to create life from lifeless matter, and found a surrogate mom—where will it call home?

Habitat loss causes most extinctions today. Ranchers converted thylacine habitat into rangeland for livestock. When Tasmanian Tigers had the gall to dine on the exotic lamb delivered to their homes, they were shot as pests—bounties paid. Unless large expanses of rangeland are restored as natural habitat—another monumental challenge for science and politics—they would still be considered pests.

Livestock interests continue blocking efforts to reintroduce wolves, grizzlies, and bison in western North America. Considerable ground for wildlife could be gained if we pulled the subsidies feed bag from grazers, and stopped buying their meat and by-products, but until we restore habitat on a large scale, even wildlife that doesn’t have to be brought back from the dead has no home.

Hundreds of wolves killed for livestock attacks

Government wolf kills increasing

Frozen Ark Project DNA of endangered species preserved for possible cloning.

Plan to recreate 88% mammoth from sperm DNA

Attempts to clone extinct Ibex