Dodo to Return 400 Years after Extinction? | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G

Summary

The video explores the possibility of resurrecting the dodo, the iconic extinct bird, through advances in biotechnology. Colossal Biosciences claims to have made a breakthrough by culturing specialized cells from pigeons, the dodo's closest living relatives, aiming to recreate a living approximation of the species. While the scientific achievement is remarkable, experts caution about incomplete knowledge of the dodo's behavior, reproduction, and potential health issues. The video also highlights the urgent reality of current extinction rates, questioning whether resources might be better spent protecting the 2 million species currently at risk rather than reviving creatures that vanished centuries ago.

Takeaways

• 😀 99.9% of species that have ever existed on Earth are now extinct, and the dodo is one of the most famous examples.
• 😀 The dodo, a flightless bird that lived in Mauritius, became extinct around 400 years ago due to human activity.
• 😀 An American biotechnology company, Colossal Biosciences, claims to be making significant progress toward resurrecting the dodo.
• 😀 Colossal has already raised $600 million and previously worked on projects like creating a woolly mouse using mammoth DNA.
• 😀 The company's latest milestone involves culturing cells from the common pigeon and Nicobar pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.
• 😀 The goal is to create a living approximation of the dodo, but there are challenges in ensuring that it truly behaves and looks like the original.
• 😀 There is limited information about the dodo’s behavior, diseases, or reproduction, as the last reliable sighting was in the 17th century.
• 😀 Critics are concerned that even if the dodo is resurrected, it may not resemble the original due to gaps in knowledge and genetic engineering limitations.
• 😀 Resurrecting extinct species may pose ethical concerns, such as organ defects, premature aging, and the unnecessary suffering of living surrogates used in cloning.
• 😀 With 2 million species currently at risk of extinction, some argue that resources would be better spent on protecting endangered species instead of resurrecting extinct ones.

Q & A

How many species have existed on Earth since the beginning of time?

Approximately 5 billion species have existed on Earth since the beginning of time.

What percentage of species that have existed are now extinct?

About 99.9% of species that have ever existed are now extinct.

Why is the dodo considered the poster child for extinction?

The dodo is considered the poster child for extinction because it was driven to extinction by humans within a century of being discovered, illustrating humanity's capacity to destroy species.

When and where was the dodo first encountered by humans?

The dodo was first encountered by Dutch sailors in 1598 on the island of Mauritius.

What is Colossal Biosciences claiming to achieve with the dodo?

Colossal Biosciences claims to be taking steps toward resurrecting the dodo using genetic engineering, culturing cells from pigeons and planning to use cells from the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative.

What challenges do scientists face in resurrecting the dodo?

Challenges include incomplete historical data on the dodo’s appearance and behavior, differences in modern ecosystems, potential genetic engineering issues like organ defects, immune problems, premature aging, and ethical concerns regarding the welfare of surrogate animals.

Why is it difficult to recreate an accurate version of the dodo?

It is difficult because the last reliable dodo sighting was over 400 years ago, providing very limited information about its appearance, behavior, and ecological interactions.

What are some of the risks associated with cloning or resurrecting extinct species?

Risks include health issues for cloned animals such as organ defects, immune system problems, premature aging, and the potential suffering or death of surrogate animals used in the process.

How many species are currently at risk of extinction, and what are the main threats?

Approximately 2 million species are currently at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and hunting.

What ethical or conservation concerns are raised by focusing on resurrecting extinct species like the dodo?

The main concern is that millions of dollars spent on resurrecting extinct species could be better used to protect species currently at risk, which may be more urgent for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health.

What is the significance of the Nicobar pigeon in the dodo resurrection efforts?

The Nicobar pigeon is the closest living relative of the dodo, and its cells are being considered as a genetic template to help recreate a living approximation of the extinct dodo.

How can viewers access this story in different languages?

The story is available on YouTube in nine languages, including English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. Viewers can select their preferred audio track in the settings.