What
De-extinction is the process of reviving extinct species back to life, also known as resurrection biology or species revivalism. Cloning is the most common method of de-extinction, and is still in the works of being more successful. Additionally, the methods of de-extinction does not only apply to species that are extinct, but also to animals and plants that are endangered because of environmental factors - both natural and man-made.
De-extinction
To visualize the effects of climate change on extinction, the infographic proves which groups are mostly at risk and which regions are most influenced in different regions. B.8
A study concluded that because of global temperatures rising, 16% of the world's species face extinction. The number of species becoming extinct is so huge that we are currently in the midst of the Sixth Mass Extinction. The problem? Human influences. Pollution, habitat destruction, and man-made climate change are all responsible. Humans have caused a huge influence in the climate today. Global temperatures and the increase of CO2 have a major toll on our world. Global warming affects sea levels to rise, temperatures being fluctuated, increased precipitation, floods, and droughts, stronger hurricanes and storms, and ecosystems - all in which affect the world we live in. Ecosystems run on dependency of one another species, and if one becomes affected with a decrease in number or extinction, it is a chain reaction that affects the whole ecosystem.
Furthermore, this is not only about animals, but also plants as well. Insects and animals that depend on the plants will be affected greatly if plants are being endangered too. This domino effect would ultimately affect the whole ecosystem, especially if it is a keystone species. For example, the Super Maple Tree is able to transport water to dryer areas, which supports other plants. Additionally, the canopy of this tree and bark provide a habitat for many species. If this tree becomes endangered, it would affect the animals that depend on the insects and the insects that depend on the tree.
In fact, ensuring that different plant species is so important that there are seed banks that act as a "back up" in case it goes extinct. Saving the seeds can help not only plants, but also the animals that depend on them.
Click here for list of recently endangered animals and here for endangered plants.
The chart visualizes the percent extinction millions years ago. There has been five mass extinctions, and we are currently in the midst of the Sixth Mass Extinction. B.7
This infographic briefly explains the Sixth Mass Extinction and why it is important to save the many species that are affected. B.4
OUR IMPACT
Why
The number of species that humans have affected to be extinct or endangered is countless. There are still many species to be discovered, and as a result, the exact number cannot be measurable. However, scientists estimate that we are losing species at a rate of 1,000 to 10,000 times the rate of about one to five species per year. This means literally about dozens of species each day!
What Scientists Are Up To
what's happening?
Ben Novak, an ecologist working to revive passenger pigeons, says a few genetic changes should work to bring this species back to life. The band-tailed pigeon is the closest living relative to the extinct passenger pigeon.
Novak states, “The two genomes are 97% the same. That 3% has built up over many millions of years and the majority of it is noise. So the actual differences are much likely a smaller portion—probably within the realm of several thousand mutations. What we want to find is the key 20 or 100 mutations that affect the traits that are most important.”
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Ecologists are not working on resurrecting extinct animals for fun, but because bringing back certain species would improve ecosystems that depended on the extinct species.
With the methods of de-extinction and saving endangered species, scientists and the world are hoping to keep the world of biodiversity from decreasing and continuing to live on. Because of what humans have cause, there is a higher sense of responsibility that it is our job to keep this world we share alive and well.
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Click here to learn more about de-extinction today. (Resurrecting a mammoth?)
All three methods of de-extinction have been used for other reasons besides de-extinction, however, it takes time for it to develop. Back breeding would require generations for the wanted outcome because it takes evolution. Cloning does work with certain animals, but reviving extinct animals is still in the process. Yes, it has been done before, but it takes many trials for the animal to function properly; this also applies to gene-editing. The hard part of resurrection biology with DNA is making sure certain genes of DNA are properly turned on and functions correctly in the organism. DNA is not only the difficult part, but making sure the revived organism is influenced by the same environmental factors and diets of the extinct species for it to be fully identical.
De-extinction can occur soon as there are many projects regarding the revivalism of extinct species, however, these projects can take time for these organisms to function well 100%.
Click here to learn more about criteria needed for a successful resurrection.
soon, maybe
When
Cloning, using the DNA of the organism, is the most known method that can be used to resurrect species, however, it is not the easiest. The problem is not reading DNA nor making DNA, but how to getting a cell to read the DNA.
Another method of resurrecting species is more indirect, but still possible. This method is called breeding back that involves using species with similar traits to their ancestors.
Genetic engineering is another option for de-extinction. Scientists would compare the genome of an extinct animal with the closest living species and swap certain genes by using gene-editing tools so certain traits are similar.
Click here to learn more about methods of de-extinction.
How
METHODS
The Loss of Species infographic visually summarizes the effects of lost of biodiversity and its importance. B.9
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background
De-extinction is defined as "species revivalism", but what exactly is it, why should it be relevant, how is it performed, and when will it actually come to our world? Additionally, what is de-extinction's progress right right now? Read more to find out.
Additionally, there are extinctions on a much smaller scale. Our microbiota, an "ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms", including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists, and archaea, are also facing extinctions. Hunter-gatherers from Tanzania, Venezuela, and Peru possess microbiota that differs from Westerners. The hunter-gathers "harbor up to 50% more bacterial species and twice as many bacterial genes than ours do" (B.13). Fiber feeds your guts' bacteria and increases the biodiversity of your microbiota. Those with diverse mircobiota are leaner and have better metabolism. Moreover, losing species of your microbiota will affect you to be more prone to diseases. Thus, with a bad diet, you and your children are at a higher risk for certain diseases.
Thus, the extinction of microbiota species affects our life too. However, there is currently not much 'de-extinction methods' from biotechnology that would directly restore the lost of beneficial microbiota - at least for now.
It is crucial to keep a variety of different species to maintain ecosystems and natural functions.
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