Daily Current Affairs : 9-December-2023
In a groundbreaking initiative, Colossal Biosciences and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation are joining forces to resurrect the iconic dodo bird. This ambitious project not only aims to bring the extinct species back to life but also plans to reintroduce it to its original habitat in Mauritius.
About the Dodo
The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius. Its closest relative was the Rodrigues solitaire, another extinct flightless bird. Both belonged to the subfamily Raphinae, a group of flightless birds within the pigeon and dove family. While the last widely accepted sighting of a dodo was in 1662, the species holds historical significance due to Dutch sailors’ first recorded mention in 1598.
Why Dodos Went Extinct
The dodo’s demise is intricately linked to Dutch colonization. Upon their arrival in 1598, Dutch settlers hunted the bird for its meat, and the animals they brought—dogs, cats, and rats—proved disastrous for the defenseless dodos and their eggs. Human interaction with nature, including hunting and the introduction of invasive species, marked the inevitable path to the dodo’s extinction.
The Plan to Bring the Dodo Back
- Genetic Information: De-extinction begins with the complete genetic information of a species, known as its genome. The dodo’s genome has been successfully sequenced by a team of geneticists using DNA extracted from a skull.
- Comparative Analysis: The dodo genome is compared with that of the Rodrigues solitaire and the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative. The comparison aims to identify the unique genetic traits that define the dodo.
- Editing Nicobar Pigeon’s PGCs: Primordial germ cells (PGCs) of the Nicobar pigeon, containing the essential genetic information, will be edited to express dodo-like physical traits.
- Interspecies Surrogates: These edited PGCs will be inserted into the embryos of sterile chickens and roosters, serving as ‘interspecies surrogates.’
- Potential Offspring: In theory, the edited embryos will develop into dodo offspring when the surrogate chicken and rooster reproduce.
Important Points:
- Reviving the Dodo: A Collaborative Effort
- Colossal Biosciences and Mauritian Wildlife Foundation partnership
- Objective: Resurrect and reintroduce the dodo to Mauritius
- About the Dodo
- Extinct flightless bird native to Mauritius (Raphus cucullatus)
- Closest relative: Rodrigues solitaire
- Belongs to the subfamily Raphinae, part of the pigeon and dove family
- First recorded mention by Dutch sailors in 1598
- Last widely accepted sighting in 1662
- Why Dodos Went Extinct
- Dutch colonization in 1598
- Dutch settlers hunted dodos for meat
- Introduction of invasive species (dogs, cats, rats)
- Inevitable extinction due to human interaction with nature
- The Plan to Bring the Dodo Back
- Genetic Information
- Complete genome sequencing of the dodo
- Comparative Analysis
- Comparison with Rodrigues solitaire and Nicobar pigeon genomes
- Editing Nicobar Pigeon’s PGCs
- Primordial germ cells edited to express dodo-like traits
- Interspecies Surrogates
- Edited PGCs inserted into embryos of sterile chickens and roosters
- Potential Offspring
- Theoretically, chicken and rooster reproduction leads to dodo offspring
- Genetic Information
- Significance of the Project
- Exploring genetic engineering and conservation
- Promising step toward resurrecting an extinct species
- Potential implications for future conservation efforts and biodiversity restoration
Why In News
An ambitious new project, a groundbreaking collaboration between genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, promises to not just bring the dodo back to life, but also re-introduce it in its once-native habitat in Mauritius, ushering in a hopeful era for the restoration of biodiversity and fostering a harmonious coexistence between revived species and their ecosystems.
MCQs about Dodo Resurrection: A Genetic Breakthrough for Conservation
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What is the primary goal of the collaboration between Colossal Biosciences and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation?
A. Study the genetic diversity of pigeons and doves
B. Develop a new species of flightless birds
C. Resurrect and reintroduce the dodo to Mauritius
D. Establish a wildlife sanctuary in Mauritius
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What played a significant role in the extinction of the dodo?
A. Climate change
B. Dutch colonization
C. Introduction of invasive species
D. Loss of habitat due to deforestation
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What is the first step in the process of de-extincting a species?
A. Introducing invasive species
B. Complete genome sequencing
C. Releasing the species into the wild
D. Studying the behavior of the extinct species
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How are the physical traits of the dodo intended to be expressed in the resurrected species?
A. Through natural selection
B. Editing primordial germ cells (PGCs) of the Nicobar pigeon
C. Introducing genetic mutations in the embryos
D. Crossbreeding dodos with other flightless birds
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