Researchers are advancing towards potentially bringing back the long-extinct Tasmanian tiger.

Colossal Biosciences, a firm dedicated to genetic research aimed at “de-extincting” lost species, shared last week that they have created the most comprehensive Tasmanian tiger genome achieved so far. Concurrently, scientists have successfully extracted long strands of RNA from a preserved 110-year-old skull, which was kept in ethanol, according to a press release from Colossal.

This latest development is part of an ongoing effort by Colossal, which has partnered with the University of Melbourne’s Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research (TIGRR) Lab since 2022 to resurrect the Tasmanian tiger. The species, also referred to as the thylacine, went extinct due to extensive hunting by 1936.

With these discoveries, researchers now possess an intricate guide as they pursue the goal of reviving this extinct animal and reintroducing it to its original environment in Australia.

“Our team is racing to develop the science needed to make extinction history,” stated Colossal co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm. “These strides in our project are a remarkable leap towards that goal.”

Progress by Colossal Biosciences on the Tasmanian Tiger ‘De-Extinction’

Colossal gained significant attention in 2021 after announcing its ambitious plan to use genetic engineering to bring back the iconic woolly mammoth. Their research aims to modify elephant DNA to incorporate woolly mammoth traits, such as thick fur and fat layers, to help the hybrid creatures thrive in the cold tundra of Siberia.

Since then, the company has also announced its interest in exploring ways to resurrect the dodo and, of course, the Tasmanian tiger.

Their goal is to use gene editing techniques on a preserved thylacine genome to create embryos, ultimately re-establishing the Tasmanian tiger on Tasmania, the island off the southeast coast of Australia.

The new scientific advancements, although not yet peer-reviewed, could help in realizing this vision.

By preserving a century-old Tasmanian tiger skull, scientists have managed to replicate what Colossal describes as “the most complete and contiguous ancient genome of any species up till now.” There are still 45 gaps remaining in the genome, which researchers plan to address with further sequencing in the upcoming months.

Moreover, the team successfully isolated long strands of ribonucleic acid (RNA) from various soft tissue parts of the specimen, including its tongue, nasal cavity, brain, and eye.

Understanding RNA and DNA

Similar to DNA, RNA is a type of genetic material found in all living organisms, responsible for transmitting information from the genome to various parts of the cell regarding necessary functions. Essentially, RNA acts as a messenger that interprets the genetic instructions embedded in DNA.

By isolating this genetic material, scientists believe “we will be able to analyze the sensory perceptions of a thylacine, including its taste, smell, vision, and even brain functions,” remarked Andrew Pask, a member of Colossal’s Scientific Advisory Board and a researcher at the University of Melbourne’s TIGRR Lab.

The Extinction of the Tasmanian Tigers

At first glance, Tasmanian tigers seem to resemble unusual canines, but they are classified as marsupials and are more closely related to kangaroos and koalas than to wolves or dogs.

Native to Tasmania, located off Australia’s southern coast, the thylacine featured prominent dark stripes stretching from its shoulders to its tail, boasted a dog-like head equipped with strong jaws, and had a pouch that opened at the back to carry young ones, according to information from the Australian Museum.

Before the species was driven to extinction almost 80 years ago, Tasmanian tigers were initially found throughout continental Australia before becoming limited to Tasmania. As carnivorous creatures, they primarily fed on kangaroos, other marsupials, small rodents, and birds, as noted by the Australian Museum.

However, they could not withstand the relentless hunting by humans as European settlers began targeting them.
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According to the Australian Museum, the Tasmanian tiger faced extinction in the late 1800s primarily due to efforts aimed at protecting livestock from these animals.

A short film recovered and digitized in 2020 captures what is thought to be the last Tasmanian tiger in captivity, filmed in 1935. Released by Australia’s National Film and Sound Archive, the video showcases a tiger named Benjamin wandering around his enclosure in a now-defunct zoo, shortly before his demise a year later.

Recently, there have been eight reports of sightings of the extinct marsupial to the Tasmanian government, yet none have been confirmed or substantiated.

Other researchers are also aiming to bring back the lost species

Researchers at Colossal are not the only ones intrigued by the possibility of reanimating the Tasmanian tiger.

Last year, scientists from Sweden successfully extracted and sequenced RNA from a specimen that is around 130 years old, kept at a museum in Stockholm. This achievement was unprecedented, marking the first time RNA molecules were isolated from an extinct species, according to a recent study.

By analyzing these RNA strands, researchers aimed to gain further insights into the biological characteristics of the extinct species.

Although reviving the species was not the primary objective of last year’s research, the scientists noted that understanding the genetic structure of the Tasmanian tiger could create pathways for potential revival.