Are Extinct Thylacines Making A Comeback?

Beginning:

The only recorded species of Thylacinus, a rubric that superficially resembles tykes and foxes of the family Canidae, was a raptorial marsupial that lived on the Australian landmass during the Holocene and was observed by Europeans on the island of Tasmania; The species is known as the Tasmanian barracuda for its hair banded markings.

Descriptions of the thylacine come from preserved specimens, reaction records, skin and carcass remains, and black-and-white photographs and film of the animal in captivity and in the field. The thylacine resembles a large, short-haired canine with a stiff tail that easily extends from the body in a kangaroo-like fashion. Mature thylacines are 100 to 130 cm (39 to 51 in) long with a tail of about 50 to 65 cm (20 to 26 in). Adults stand about 60 cm (24 in) at the shoulder and weigh an average of 12 to 22 kg (26 to 49 lb), although they can range from 8 to 30 kg (18 to 66 lb).  On average there was little sexual dimorphism with males being larger than females. Males weigh about 19.7 kilograms (43 lb) and females about 13.7 kilograms (30 lb).

The cranium is noted to be largely coincident with that of a canid, almost reminiscent of a red fox. Thylacines, uniquely for marsupials, had cartilaginous epipubic bones with a largely reduced osseous component. It was previously considered a synapomorphy with sparsodonts, although it is now accepted that both groups have their epipubics singularly reduced. Contrasting its mottled-brown fur, it features 15 to 20 distinct dark stripes across the rump and base of the tail, giving the animal the nickname "barracuda". Stripes were more pronounced in young specimens, fading as the animal aged. A hander of the stripes extends outwards of the ham. Its body hair is thick and soft, up to 15 mm (0.6 in) in length. Color varies from light brown to dark brown; The abdomen was cream colored. Its round, erect snout was about 8 cm (3.1 in) long and covered with short hairs. Early scientific studies suggested that it possessed a strong scent that enabled it to track prey, but analysis of its brain structure showed that its olfactory bulbs were not well developed. It probably counted on sight and sound while hunting.

 

Image Source: Wikimedia

The Thylacine was apt to open its jaws to an unusual degree of up to 80 degrees. This ability is seen in David Flay's short black-and-white film sequence of an interned Thylacine from 1933. The jaws were muscular and had 46 teeth, but studies show that Thylacine jaws were too weak to kill lambs. Tail chins were mixed to a degree with full tail movement restriction. Fusion may occur as the animal reaches full maturity. The tail alternates towards the tip. In children, there was a crest at the tip of the tail. The female Thylacine had a pouch with four teats, but unlike many other marsupials, the pouch was open on the opposite side of its body. Males had a scrotal poke, unique among Australian marsupials,  so they could retract their testicles for protection.

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1930; The world's last wild Thylacine fell to the ground after farmer William Beatty's gun! A thylacine that died in Hobart's Beaumaris Zoo in 1936 is believed to be the last living Thylacine in the world. The process of killing the Thylacine began mainly during the British colonization of Australia in the 19th century. This strange carnivorous animal is a hindrance to sheep rearing. Despite having a head like a dog and a pouch like a kangaroo, the Thylacines are known as the 'Tasmanian tiger' to the British because of the striped spots on the back like a tiger.

Scientists are trying to bring this extinct animal back to earth. Professor Andrew Pask of the University of Melbourne in Australia and his colleagues and the American biotechnology and genetic engineering company 'Colossal' are conducting joint research. It has already been possible to sequence the complete genome of a Thylacine specimen preserved 110 years ago. In 2008, scientists introduced the DNA of the extinct Thylacine into living cells for the first time. By inserting Thylacine DNA into the body of mice through genome editing, scientists observe that the extinct Thylacine DNA is working as usual!

Courtesy: University of Melbourne

Later, scientists decided to edit the genome of a small marsupial named Dunnart to bring back the full-fledged Thylacine. Dunart and Thylacine are both marsupials and share more than 95 percent genome similarity. Scientists will collect Dunart's stem cells and try to edit this 5-part genome mismatch to resemble Thylacine. Then the nucleus of the stem cells edited in Dunat's egg will be inserted into the embryo and placed in the body of a carrier, from which a Tasmanian tiger will be born! As marsupials have a gestation period of only 14 days, scientists believe that within the next 5-10 years, they will be able to bring a full-fledged Thylacine back to Earth!

If the Thylacines can be brought back, will they be able to flourish again? Or will the Thylacine spread once again become a headache for Australians?