I read a fascinating article not long ago about 2 brother in (I think) Germany who were back-breeding aurochs. Be interesting to see them come back from extinction as a wild species.
They have been working on that with Mammoths since CRISPR tech was perfected.
I think they are much closer with that species because they have actual viable DNA with those animals flash frozen in disaster discovered in frozen wastes. Of course, the animal was several tens of thousands of years old, but it was vialable and well preserved. . . it's flesh would be viable and safe to EAT!
I remember reading an article once, where some company, after they had extracted all the usable DNA and the scientists were done with what they needed, they had actually had hired some of the best chefs detirmine what was usable, and action off an exclusive dinner to world oligarchs to fund research into the possibility of bring back the species.
. . . now, here is the caveat with bring back these long extinct species.
Now, I am not a genetics biologists, and this is one of my educational weaknesses. . the highest I went is advance bio in high school. But, from what I read, in the article, my understanding is, they can only complete so much of the DNA of the species, and they have to use some of the mitochondrial DNA of the closest living relative of the current living species whom the plan to carry the first generation to birth the species.
For the Aurochs, one would assume, it would be the closest genetic relative of wild living bovine, and for the Mammoth, I believe the African Elephant, but it may be the Indian Elephant. . I don't remember now. They has to do with creating the most probably condition for a successful birth.
Now, I read all of this many, many years ago. So? They may have been putting all of this tech and research off till they can finally use artificial womb tech and just complete the full DNA profile? But, even then, the code is so complex, I still believe they have to use some of the modern living animals to compete the code.
. . . and, there is the ecological factors to consider, where will you put said animals one you have them? Many of the folks funding this, want to focus on bring back recent extinct species like the Tasmanian Tiger, the Dodo, or the Black Rino. Specie we already know the Earth has an ecological niche for.
Sorry for rambling. . . This tech interests me greatly, because I having studied primatology, and always had a great interest in all our brothers, the Great Apes, I am always very concerned about them. It is my opinion that the Gorillas, the Bonobos, the Orangutans, and the Chimpanzees should be extended full
Hominidae rights, like any other secluded tribe on the planet, and assigned a representative at the U.N.
