Exploring De-Extinction
Learning Objective
I can describe the process of de-extinction and its potential benefits and drawbacks.
Key Concepts
Colossal aims to use gene editing and genetic engineering to make extinction a thing of the past and restore missing components of ecosystems.
De-extinction involves rebuilding extinct species for the present day by identifying core traits, augmenting them when necessary, and adding evolutionary adaptations to create resilient species.
The mammoth project aims to engineer Asian elephant cells to be more mammoth-like by tweaking about 2% of their genome using genome editing tools and then using cloning to create a Mammoth-ised Asian elephant.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 3 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. According to the video, what is the primary goal of Colossal in relation to extinction?
2. Describe the process Colossal is using to attempt to bring back the woolly mammoth. What existing animal is being used as a starting point, and what percentage of their genomes are already identical?
3. Explain how the tools of de-extinction can be used to help endangered species that are currently alive, using the example of the Mauritian pink pigeon.
Educational Video
De-Extinction: Can the Woolly Mammoth & Dodo Restore our Ecosystem?
Colossal Biosciences