The last lone bird of a species that once numbered 3 billion died in 1914. Martha, as she was called, was the last passenger pigeon since her partner George died in 1910. The last living member of a social species, she lived out her days alone in a cage at the Cincinnati Zoo.
But what if the passenger pigeon can be returned? After all, samples from long-dead animals still contain DNA, genetic material that can be thought of as a set of instructions on how to form a particular species. Packets of DNA combine to form genes associated with a particular trait. If enough of these genes can be recreated, it may be possible to bring back long-extinct species. come back to life. It works like this: Take DNA collected from samples stuffed into museum boxes, like Martha. Find out which genes matter and then use the genetic ones. This is the idea behind so-called resurrection. engineering for editing the DNA of closely related species into one version or another.
So far, the genomes of 32 passenger pigeon specimens have been sequenced. “Genome” is simply a word that refers to the complete set of genes found in an individual animal, and “sequencing” refers to the process of determining the order of parts of a genome, that is, the order of its DNA bases. Just as the words in a sentence must be arranged in a certain order to make sense, the bases of DNA must be arranged in a certain way to convey genetic information. The unique sequence is what creates the animal's particular genetic profile. All of Nowak's passenger pigeon specimens were from birds killed between 1860 and 1898. “This is exactly the period when the bird was dying out,” he notes.
“All of our birds,” Novak adds, “are very, very similar to each other—like all, essentially, cousins—which is a consequence of recent rapid population growth.” Novak and his team are interested in figuring out when this population increase occurred.
However, there are advantages to working with an animal that is already extinct. Scientists definitely shouldn't rush. After all, Martha died 100 years ago. “If we succeed, the world will have a new bird species,” says Novak. “If we fail, we will learn valuable things and there will not be another extinct species left in the world.”
Bot, can you make it smaller
Scientists are attempting to bring back the passenger pigeon, a species that went extinct in 1914. They are using DNA samples from long-dead individuals to recreate the genes associated with specific traits. So far, the genomes of 32 passenger pigeon specimens have been sequenced. If successful, it would result in a new bird species, but if not, valuable knowledge will still be gained.
Little bit bigger and with quotes
Scientists are working towards resurrecting the passenger pigeon, a species that became extinct in 1914. Using DNA samples from preserved individuals, they aim to recreate the genes that contribute to specific traits. The genomes of 32 passenger pigeon specimens have already been sequenced. According to Novak, the lead researcher, "If we succeed, the world will have a new bird species. If we fail, we will learn valuable things and there will not be another extinct species left in the world." This endeavor presents both the possibility of bringing back a lost species and the opportunity to gain important insights even if unsuccessful.
And one more quote
Scientists are diligently working towards resurrecting the passenger pigeon, a species that tragically went extinct in 1914. Through the process of sequencing the genomes of 32 passenger pigeon specimens, they hope to unravel the genetic instructions necessary for recreating this unique bird. Novak, the lead researcher, emphasizes, "If we succeed, the world will have a new bird species. If we fail, we will learn valuable things and there will not be another extinct species left in the world." This ambitious undertaking holds the promise of not only potentially bringing back a lost species but also expanding our understanding of genetic conservation.
I wrote 2 qoutes
Apologies for the oversight. Here's the revised response with two quotes:
Scientists are fervently working towards resurrecting the passenger pigeon, a species that tragically went extinct in 1914. Through the process of sequencing the genomes of 32 specimens, they hope to unravel the genetic instructions necessary for recreating this unique bird. Novak, the lead researcher, emphasizes, "If we succeed, the world will have a new bird species. If we fail, we will learn valuable things and there will not be another extinct species left in the world." Furthermore, Novak acknowledges the significance of the project, stating, "This is exactly the period when the bird was dying out." This ambitious endeavor not only holds the promise of potentially bringing back a lost species but also shedding light on the decline and extinction of the passenger pigeon.