Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/ Good News

~ John W. Howell

 

A thylacine in a zoo

Today’s Good News story comes from the Good News Network. Here is in its entirety.

Tasmanian Tiger RNA Recovered from Preserved Specimen in Groundbreaking World First

By

Andy Corbley –

A team of Scandinavian researchers has recovered messenger and micro RNA from a Tasmanian tiger specimen kept in a museum collection.

It’s the first-ever collection of RNA from an extinct creature in history, an achievement long sought after in the study of extinct species and for other applications.

The Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, was truly unique for an apex predator. This large predatory marsupial was king among Tasmanian forests, which remain largely intact since its extinction 130 years ago.

For this reason, the potential resurrection of the thylacine has received a lot of attention, as it would immediately solve many problems facing the balance of the Tasmanian ecosystem without the complexities of trying to replace the apex predator role with a non-native animal.

The thylacine evolved on Tasmania, and putting it back would be by far the easiest solution, provided the incredibly difficult task of somehow recreating the thylacine through paleogenomics could be accomplished. Colossal Biosciences in Texas is currently working to produce viable thylacine-like embryos using already sequenced DNA to raise in surrogates over the next few years.

Now, though, a Swedish-Norwegian team has isolated the transcriptome of the skin and skeletal muscle tissues from a 130-year-old desiccated Tasmanian tiger specimen preserved at room temperature in the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm.

The functional difference between DNA and RNA is that DNA stores genetic information that only RNA can read. RNA reads and carries out the instructions for protein coding contained within DNA.

The researchers were able to isolate useable RNA from a thylacine that carried instructions for skin and skeletal muscle coding, which might be key to any resurrection.

“This is the first time that we have had a glimpse into the existence of thylacine-specific regulatory genes, such as microRNAs, that got extinct more than one century ago,” says Marc R. Friedländer, Associate Professor at the Wenner-Gren Institute at Stockholm University.

The authors point out that museum collections around the world contain vast collections of endangered and extinct species, and their technique for recovering the thylacine RNA holds promise for the study and or protection of all these creatures.

They write that the RNA from the thylacine looks a lot like that of existing marsupials.

“Resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger or the woolly mammoth is not a trivial task and will require a deep knowledge of both the genome and transcriptome regulation of such renowned species, something that only now is starting to be revealed,” says Emilio Mármol, the lead author of a study recently published in the Genome Research journal.

The idea of resurrecting a species has nothing to do with cloning and has so far centered around the idea of altering the genetic expression of the animal’s closest living relative in utero. In the case of the wooly mammoth, it would be the elephant, and in the case of the thylacine, perhaps the fat-tailed dunnart or Tasmanian devil.

The good news in this article is that possibly extinct animals can be resurrected using what is learned in this case. Today’s JohnKu talks about reversing extinction. I hope you have a super weekend.

Resurrection by John W. Howell © 2023

What used to be lost,

Through science has a slim chance . . .

Of resurrection.

78 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/ Good News”

  1. Can’t help but think that just because we can, we shouldn’t, John, after all, every time humans have done something to the environment, (introducing species such as rabbits for food or something to control another species, etc), we mess it up and make things worse 🤔

    Liked by 2 people

    2. Good point, Chris. The Producer just slapped me across the head with a “This is not good news.” Maybe it is good to discuss news. My reason for selecting the story was seeing science going in a direction to help a situation. You are right, maybe it is not a good idea. Thanks

      Liked by 2 people

  9. On the one hand, I’m smiling at the thought of ever seeing a live Tasmanian tiger, which would be exciting. On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder if we are going into an area where doing something like this might cause more problems than it solves. I can’t decide how I feel for sure, but I’m leaning a bit toward what Chris said above. “Just because we CAN doesn’t always mean we SHOULD.” It’s an amazing discovery, though, and who knows what other very positive uses could come from this accomplishment?

    Thanks for sharing, John! It’s certainly food for thought. 😀 ❤

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I agree on the food for thought, Marcia. JUst shows when a good news subject comes up sometimes there are other considerations. It is good to talk about these although my intent isn’t to create a controversy on what is good news. Let’s hope the science is careful in their progress. Thanks, Marcia.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. In Jurassic Park they used frog DNA to fill in the ‘gaps.’ As I recall fictionally this almost worked out perfect. I imagine here they will go with something much safer like tiger, cave bear, or saber tooth tiger DNA to fill in the gaps. On a serious note the rate at which we introducing foreign species around the world continues. And they are of the smaller varieties. Things like fire ants and Asian giant hornets. Oh and Burmese pythons in Florida. All good things to keep life interesting. Science is a good thing. Humans messing with ecosystems is how we teach Artificial Intelligence to say WTF. Said with deep profound sincerity. Then again the theme parks and the movies will be great for the economy. If you excuse me I will just pour three fingers and try to calm down. Happy Friday John ! And a jolly good try…

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I’m a tad torn on this one, to be honest. If it would benefit Tasmania (problem with overpopulation of some critter?) that is one thing. Species have a normal life (existence?) cycle, methinks. It’s very interesting, though! Could you imagine? My goodness.
    Happy Friday, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Twiggy could take it. 😀
      And I love the picture of “the producer” slapping you across the head. Give her a hug from me. Ha Ha Ha.
      Bring back Dino, Fred and Wilma.

      Liked by 2 people

  16. Break through or break neck? Like many of the comments, I see how this could go two ways and only time will tell. Let’s hope the outcome proves positive.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I love the thought of resurrecting extinct species, but as we are all too well aware, the best of intentions can go awry. I guess I’ll take the sit-back-and-see seat. Thanks for this information, John. What do you think?

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Twiggy could take it. 😀
    And I love the picture of “the producer” slapping you across the head. Give her a hug from me. Ha Ha Ha.
    Bring back Dino, Fred and Wilma.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. The JohnKu speaks true.
    Fascinating news, as much as good news, dear John.
    Where science leads, some will follow.

    🐂🐂🐂🐂
    (Fortunately we don’t have to resurrect the OX!)

    Liked by 1 person

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