In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Genome Research on September 20, 2023, scientists announced that they had successfully recovered RNA from an extinct species for the first time. The RNA, which was extracted from the skin and muscle of a 130-year-old Tasmanian tiger specimen, is the oldest RNA ever sequenced.
The researchers who conducted the study used a new technique called "RNA capture sequencing" to extract and sequence the RNA from the Tasmanian tiger specimen. RNA capture sequencing involves using short DNA probes to bind to specific RNA sequences. The probes are then attached to magnetic beads, which are used to isolate the RNA from the rest of the sample. The RNA can then be sequenced using standard methods.
The researchers were able to recover and sequence RNA from over
100 genes in the Tasmanian tiger specimen. This allowed them to reconstruct the
transcriptome, which is the complete set of RNA molecules expressed by a cell
or tissue. The researchers also found that the RNA was well-preserved, and they
were able to identify muscle- and skin-specific protein-coding RNAs, as well as
microRNAs, which are small RNAs that regulate gene expression.
The recovery of RNA from an extinct species is a major
breakthrough in paleogenomics. It opens up the possibility of studying the gene
expression and regulatory mechanisms of extinct species, something that was
previously impossible. This new knowledge could be used to better understand
the evolution of species and the factors that contribute to extinction.
In addition, the recovery of RNA from an extinct species could
have implications for conservation efforts. For example, researchers could use
the RNA to identify genes that are important for survival in certain
environments. This information could then be used to develop strategies for
protecting endangered species.
The researchers who conducted the study say that they are
hopeful that their new technique will be used to recover RNA from other extinct
species in the future. They are particularly interested in recovering RNA from
woolly mammoths and other ancient animals that have been preserved in
permafrost.
Implications
The recovery of RNA from an extinct species is a significant
advance in paleogenomics, and it has a number of potential implications for
research and conservation.
One of the most immediate implications is that it will allow
scientists to study the gene expression and regulatory mechanisms of extinct
species. This was previously impossible, as RNA degrades quickly after death.
By studying the RNA of extinct species, scientists can learn more about their
biology, evolution, and how they responded to environmental changes.
For example, the researchers who conducted the study were able
to identify muscle- and skin-specific protein-coding RNAs, as well as
microRNAs, in the Tasmanian tiger specimen. This information could be used to
learn more about how the Tasmanian tiger's muscles and skin functioned, and how
they were regulated.
The recovery of RNA from extinct species could also have
implications for conservation efforts. For example, researchers could use the
RNA to identify genes that are important for survival in certain environments.
This information could then be used to develop strategies for protecting
endangered species.
For example, if researchers could identify genes that are
important for drought tolerance in extinct species, they could use this
information to develop breeding programs for endangered species that are
threatened by drought.
The recovery of RNA from extinct species also has the potential
to revolutionize the field of de-extinction. De-extinction is the process of
bringing back extinct species to life. While de-extinction is still a long way
off, the recovery of RNA from extinct species is a significant step in the
right direction.
If researchers can develop a way to repair and synthesize
ancient RNA, they could potentially use it to create viable embryos of extinct
species. These embryos could then be implanted in surrogate mothers or grown in
artificial wombs.
Of course, there are a number of ethical and practical
challenges that would need to be addressed before de-extinction could become a
reality. However, the recovery of RNA from extinct species is a major step
towards making de-extinction a possibility.
Challenges and future directions
While the recovery of RNA from an extinct species is a major
breakthrough, there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed
before this technique can be widely used.
One challenge is that the RNA from extinct species is often very
degraded. This means that it can be difficult to extract and sequence the RNA
without damaging it. Researchers are working on developing new techniques to
extract and sequence RNA from ancient samples, but there is still room for
improvement.
Another challenge is that it can be difficult to distinguish between RNA from the extinct.
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