deextinction

Deextinction is the effort to revive species that have disappeared from the planet or to restore certain traits in living relatives through genetic, reproductive, and ecological techniques. In practice, it encompasses a range of methods from genome editing to population restoration, and it raises questions about feasibility, ethics, and ecosystem impact.

Common methods include cloning, backbreeding through selective breeding of living relatives, genome editing to recreate extinct traits, and the creation of hybrids that combine genomes of extinct and extant species. Cloning uses preserved DNA to produce an organism, while backbreeding seeks to reassemble ancestral features in a surviving lineage. Genome editing, often with CRISPR, aims to reintroduce genes associated with extinct organisms into a living relative, making a lookalike or functional surrogate. Success stories are limited and debates continue about whether reconstructed organisms would be truly the same as the originals.

In practice, deextinction projects are often associated with research organizations such as Revive & Restore, which supports passenger pigeon revival efforts and other studies. Scientific discussions also center on possibilities such as mammoth-elephant hybrids or surrogate approaches, as well as broader questions about genome sequencing of extinct species and the potential ecological consequences of reintroduction.

Critics argue that deextinction could divert attention and resources from protecting endangered species, complicate ecosystem dynamics, and raise ethical concerns about animal welfare and governance. Proponents see potential benefits in ecosystem restoration, scientific knowledge, and climate resilience, though many agree that any revival would require careful risk assessment, regulatory oversight, and long-term commitments.

Overall, deextinction is a developing field at the intersection of biology, ecology, and ethics, with no widely accepted method for restoring a fully functional extinct species to the wild.