Opinion: Should extinct species return? Ethics and realities of de

Reviving lost species may help restore ecosystems, but it demands robust scientific oversight to ensure responsible use

By Tej Singh Kardam

Resurrection, generally known as de-extinction, aims to reverse the extinction of animals by creating new versions of lost species. The goal is to create functional equivalents of extinct species, resulting in ecological enrichment and the restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem functions lost through extinction. Put simply, resurrection science seeks to one day literally bring extinct species back from the dead.

How Does it Work

De-extinction works mainly through three technologies: cloning, genome editing and back breeding. Cloning involves extracting DNA from preserved remains of an extinct species — such as fossils or museum specimens — a