They’ve been extinct for decades (despite what the occasional rumoured sighting would have you believe) – but thanks to the University of Melbourne, Tasmanian tigers may be one step closer to roaming the wilds once again.
The Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research Lab – which of course shortens to TIGRR – has partnered with Colossal Biosciences, a firm based in Dallas, Texas, to use CRISPR gene-editing technology as part of the “de-extinction” of the thylacine, better known as the Tassie tiger.
TIGRR will establish suitable reproductive technology tailored to marsupials, including IVF and gestation without a surrogate, while Colossal will use CRISPR to reproduce thylacine DNA.
According to Professor Andrew Pask (pictured, left), the head of TIGRR, this is a massive step forward not just for bringing back the thylacine, but for conserving currently-endangered marsupials.
“The question everyone asks is ‘how long until we see a living thylacine’ – and I’ve previously believed in ten years’ time we would have an edited cell that we could then consider progressing into making into an animal,” he said.
“With this partnership, I now believe that in ten years’ time we could have our first living baby thylacine since they were hunted to extinction close to a century ago.”
Of course, if they don’t get to cackle madly and shout “IT’S ALIIIIIVE!” when they get their first newborn thylacine, then frankly, we fail to see the point.
