Post by Bozur on Dec 30, 2015 13:24:04 GMT -5
NEW ZEALAND SCIENTISTS ON VERGE OF REVIVING EXTINCT GIANT MOA SPECIES
September 17th, 2015 | by Bob Flanagan
New Zealand Scientists on Verge of Reviving Extinct Giant Moa Species BIOTECH 0
Auckland | A team of scientists from the University of Auckland have performed the first DNA-based reconstruction of the extinct giant moa bird, using prehistoric feathers recovered from caves and rock shelters found in the semi-arid Central Otago region of New Zealand, reports the South Auckland Herald.
Researchers from the University of Auckland have successfully attempted to insert more than a dozen of the extinct animal’s genes into the live DNA of an Australian emu, a close relative of the species.
PhD student John Ho Chin from the University’s DNA research lab says until now, the scientific community has not known what the 10 different species of moa looked like. “It will be the first time in 600 years that human beings lay their eyes upon the giant creature” he explains, visibly enthused. “This is just like Jurassic Park the movie, but for real” he adds.
The giant birds, measuring up to 3.5 meters and weighing an impressive 550 kilograms, were the dominant animals in New Zealand’s pre-human environment but were quickly exterminated after the arrival of the Maori around 1400 AD.
A newly developped method known as ‘Crispr’, which enables scientists to make accurate changes to DNA, was used by genetics professor James Churchwall, who replaced parts of emu DNA with the giant moa genes
“Because moas were hunted to extinction as recently as 600 years ago, their feathers and eggs can still be found relatively intact. In fact, moa DNA has already been extracted from ancient eggshells, and projects to clone the moa have already been attempted. It is only recently that technology has allowed us to successfully introduce its genes in living emu DNA” he admits, visibly excited.
Brought back to life after 600 years
“This group of large flightless birds went extinct in approximately 1400 AD following the arrival and proliferation of the Maori people on New Zealand. However, intact DNA from both preserved specimens and eggshells makes the moa a fantastic candidate for resurrection” he explains. “We are only a few months away from hopefully bringing back a dozen of these extinct giant birds back to life” an extraordinary technical feat he admits. “If this succeeds, and it will, what other species will we decide to bring back?” he ponders.
New Zealand Member of Parliament Trevor Mallard who suggested the cloning of the moa in 2014 is baffled by the success of the research team
New Zealand Member of Parliament, Trevor Mallard, who originally proposed that the New Zealand government finance the project, is baffled by the success of the scientists. “In 2014, I proposed the idea to Parliament that bringing back some smaller species of moa within 50 years was a viable project, but never did I suspect it would happen so fast” he told reporters.
The last official sighting of a moa is based on the testimony of 80-year-old Alice Mckenzie who claimed in 1959 that she had seen a moa in Fiordland bush in 1887, and again on a Fiordland beach when she was 17 years old.
September 17th, 2015 | by Bob Flanagan
New Zealand Scientists on Verge of Reviving Extinct Giant Moa Species BIOTECH 0
Auckland | A team of scientists from the University of Auckland have performed the first DNA-based reconstruction of the extinct giant moa bird, using prehistoric feathers recovered from caves and rock shelters found in the semi-arid Central Otago region of New Zealand, reports the South Auckland Herald.
Researchers from the University of Auckland have successfully attempted to insert more than a dozen of the extinct animal’s genes into the live DNA of an Australian emu, a close relative of the species.
PhD student John Ho Chin from the University’s DNA research lab says until now, the scientific community has not known what the 10 different species of moa looked like. “It will be the first time in 600 years that human beings lay their eyes upon the giant creature” he explains, visibly enthused. “This is just like Jurassic Park the movie, but for real” he adds.
The giant birds, measuring up to 3.5 meters and weighing an impressive 550 kilograms, were the dominant animals in New Zealand’s pre-human environment but were quickly exterminated after the arrival of the Maori around 1400 AD.
A newly developped method known as ‘Crispr’, which enables scientists to make accurate changes to DNA, was used by genetics professor James Churchwall, who replaced parts of emu DNA with the giant moa genes
“Because moas were hunted to extinction as recently as 600 years ago, their feathers and eggs can still be found relatively intact. In fact, moa DNA has already been extracted from ancient eggshells, and projects to clone the moa have already been attempted. It is only recently that technology has allowed us to successfully introduce its genes in living emu DNA” he admits, visibly excited.
Brought back to life after 600 years
“This group of large flightless birds went extinct in approximately 1400 AD following the arrival and proliferation of the Maori people on New Zealand. However, intact DNA from both preserved specimens and eggshells makes the moa a fantastic candidate for resurrection” he explains. “We are only a few months away from hopefully bringing back a dozen of these extinct giant birds back to life” an extraordinary technical feat he admits. “If this succeeds, and it will, what other species will we decide to bring back?” he ponders.
New Zealand Member of Parliament Trevor Mallard who suggested the cloning of the moa in 2014 is baffled by the success of the research team
New Zealand Member of Parliament, Trevor Mallard, who originally proposed that the New Zealand government finance the project, is baffled by the success of the scientists. “In 2014, I proposed the idea to Parliament that bringing back some smaller species of moa within 50 years was a viable project, but never did I suspect it would happen so fast” he told reporters.
The last official sighting of a moa is based on the testimony of 80-year-old Alice Mckenzie who claimed in 1959 that she had seen a moa in Fiordland bush in 1887, and again on a Fiordland beach when she was 17 years old.
worldnewsdailyreport.com/new-zealand-scientists-on-verge-of-reviving-extinct-giant-moa-species/