1. De-Extinction Aurana Lo

2. Extinction Extinction – there are no more living members of a species
Has happened several times
For Example:
Passenger Pigeon (September 1914)
Saber-tooth Tiger
Tasmanian Tiger (September 1936)
Dodo Bird (1662)
Baiji White Dolphin (2002)
West African Black Rhinos (April 2015)
Woolly Mammoths (1650 BC)
Etc.

3. Reasons for extinction
Several reasons for extinction/endangerment
Some are non-human related while others are human related
Some reasons for extinction/endangerment are more dominate than others

4. Reasons for extinction
Non-Human Related Reasons
Climate Change (Heating and Cooling)
Changes in Sea Levels/Currents
Asteroids/Cosmic Radiation
Acid Rain
Disease

5. Reasons for extinction
Human Related Reasons
Increased Human Population
Destruction of Habitat
Pollution
Climate Change/Global Warming
Hunting
Introducing invasive species

7. De-Extinction
De-extinction: resurrection biology, creating an organism which is a member of an extinct species
Have the ability to de-extinct some species using new technology
There is controversy over whether we should do it

8. The Basic Science Behind it:
Use the closest related animal alive to the extinct animal
Scientists have isolated the genes that are different between the two species (compare)
Put in the extinct animal genes in the closest related living animal’s reproductive cell
Likely using CRISPR
Produce the extinct animal

12. Example: Passenger Pigeon
Example shown earlier
There used to be 3-5 million
Humans hunted to extinction
Closest related living species: band-tailed pigeon
This would bring back the species that used to cover the skies

13. Example: Woolly Mammoth
Found well preserved Woolly Mammoths in ice
Closest living relative: Asian Elephant
Similar process to passenger pigeon
There are several concerns

14. Concerns Very controversial Several concerns
Cartoon to the right explains one of the dilemmas of de-extinction

15. Concerns Ethics/Morals Religious aspect
Playing God?
At what point should we stop meddling with life?

16. Concerns
Environment
The de-extinct species will wipeout endangered species
Destroy the environment around it
There is there no place for them to survive in
Different conditions

17. Why? Why do this with so much controversy around de-extinction?
Several reasons:
Ethics/Morals
Environment
Other

18. WHY?
Ethics/Morals
Humans have a moral obligation to restore the environment
Since we have destroyed nature so much
Caused many species to become extinct
Some believe we should do everything in our power to fix it

19. WHY?
Environment
Some animals can help the current state of the environment
Some worry that woolly mammoths will destroy the environment
But they will pack the snow and ice down to keep it from melting
Also help build back the grass lands to keep the ice insolated
Transports nutrients across large distances
Restore the ecosystem
Put it back how it used to be

20. WHY?
Other Reasons
To explore if it is actually possible to bring back an extinct species
To learn more about animal conservation
If this works, we can save endangered species as well
To improve medicine
Understanding the genomes can help us understand our blood better
So we can treat more diseases

21. Quick Overview
Using synthetic biology, we can bring back extinct species
CRISPR
Compare DNA from extinct species into closest related alive animal
Put it in a motherly vessel
Eventually get extinct baby animal
Examples: Passenger Pigeon, Woolly Mammoth
Concerns
Wrong environment
Can cause endangered animals to become extinct
We are playing God
Why?
It could save the melting icecaps
It’s our moral obligation
To better understand certain kinds of animals for medical reasons
To see if we can actually do it
Thank you

22. Sources http://people.uwec.edu/jolhm/eh4/extinction/CausesLink.html
/?no-ist
saving-humans

23. Sources http://reviverestore.org/category/de-extinction/