Scientists have made a massive breakthrough in their bid to bring back the Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, they have announced.
The marsupial predator has been extinct since 1936 – but the tantalisingly possibility they could make a return to the Australian bush is one step closer, thanks to Texas-based Colossal Biosciences.
Colossal, known for its cutting-edge work in species preservation and de-extinction, revealed that it has made progress in several key areas, from creating the most complete ancient genome to date to achieving groundbreaking genetic edits and reproductive technologies.
These developments put the company closer than ever to reintroducing the thylacine to Tasmania, where its presence could help restore balance to the local ecosystem.
CEO Ben Lamm said: “Our teams are making incredible scientific leaps while on track to de-extinct the thylacine.
“These advancements represent a huge step forward in our mission to make extinction a thing of the past.”
One of Colossal’s most remarkable successes is the reconstruction of the thylacine’s genome, the most complete ever assembled.
The team used a well-preserved specimen, allowing them to achieve a level of genomic detail previously thought impossible for an extinct species.
The chain of DNA is now more than 99.9 percent accurate and consists of about three billion bases, which scientists believe will expedite efforts to bring the thylacine back.
Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s Chief Science Officer, stressed the significance of this achievement, saying: “We’ve delivered a record-breaking ancient genome that will accelerate our thylacine de-extinction project.
“These technologies could revolutionise wildlife conservation.”
Additionally, the team has successfully recovered RNA from a 110-year-old preserved thylacine specimen – an incredibly rare feat.
The startling success could offer valuable insights into how the thylacine’s brain, vision, and other organs functioned, offering even more data to help recreate the species.
Colossal’s team of scientists has identified key regions of the thylacine genome responsible for its distinctive skull and jaw shape, a feature it shares with certain canids like wolves.
By editing these regions, known as Thylacine Wolf Accelerated Regions (TWARs), and successfully integrating them into living cells, Colossal has already made over 300 unique genetic changes to create what is now the most edited animal cell in history.
Sara Ord, Director of Species Restoration at Colossal, said: “This is crucial evidence of the power of Colossal’s approach.
“It’s a huge step towards thylacine de-extinction.”
Colossal has now achieved two world-firsts: inducing ovulation in the fat-tailed dunnart, a close relative of the thylacine, and successfully growing marsupial embryos halfway through gestation in an artificial uterus.
Both technologies will be essential for breeding new thylacine embryos in the future.
Dr Andrew Pask, who leads the thylacine project, added: “This is a major milestone not just for thylacine de-extinction but for marsupial conservation as a whole.”
The last captive thylacine, a male named Benjamin, died at Hobart Zoo in 1936, and can be seen in a brief black and white clip.
