Can Dinosaurs be DE extinct
🧬 The Big Problem: Dinosaur DNA Is Long Gone
Scientists need DNA, the genetic blueprint that instructs a body on how to develop, function, and survive, in order to revive any extinct species.
The issue with dinosaurs, however, is this:
Around 66 million years ago, during the well-known asteroid event, they went extinct. Furthermore, DNA is not immortal. Indeed, DNA begins to degrade until it is no longer usable after roughly a million years. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13613
A woolly mammoth that lived some 1.2 million years ago produced the oldest DNA ever discovered, and even that was incredibly delicate.https://www.science.org/content/article/oldest-dna-ever-recovered-comes-million-year-old-mammoth "I used to think amber could trap dino DNA forever—thanks, Hollywood! But real science tells a different story, and it’s just as fascinating.”
So, despite the exciting scenes in Jurassic Park, scientists can’t extract dinosaur DNA from fossils or amber. Fossils are just rocks shaped like bones. And insects in amber don’t contain dino blood like in the movies.
🦕 What Is De-Extinction (And Can It Help)?
Even though dinosaurs are out of reach (for now), science can work on bringing back recently extinct animals. This idea is called de-extinction, and it’s a real scientific field.
Researchers use tools like:
Gene editing (like CRISPR)
Cloning
Selective breeding
Because their DNA is still present in frozen or preserved remains, these techniques enable scientists to recreate or bring back to life creatures like the woolly mammoth, passenger pigeon, or even the dodo.
“When I first read about this, I couldn’t believe it was real. The idea of reviving extinct animals feels like science fiction coming to life. "Colossal Biosciences, one company at the forefront, is attempting to revive the woolly mammoth through gene editing and elephant DNA.
Therefore, other extinct animals are starting to be considered for revival, even though dinosaurs are too old.
🐓 Chickens: The Dinosaurs That Survived
Birds are living dinosaurs, which is an astounding fact.https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2021/february/oldest-ever-dna-extracted-from-a-million-year-old-mammoth-tooth.html
Yes, all the pigeons, hawks, and chickens you see are direct descendants of theropods, a group of small, meat-eating dinosaurs including the Velociraptor and Tyrannosaurus Rex.
These animals developed, shrank, gained feathers, and learned to fly over millions of years. They evolved into what we now refer to as birds.
In other words: Dinosaurs never fully died out—they just changed.
Because of this, some scientists have started calling birds “avian dinosaurs,” while the big extinct ones like T. rex are called “non-avian dinosaurs. “Honestly, the next time I see a chicken pecking in the yard, I might just imagine it’s a mini-T. rex in disguise.”
🐣 Project Chickenosaurus: Reverse Evolution?
Since chickens are closely related to dinosaurs, scientists have experimented with tweaking
Teeth instead of beaks
Long, reptile-like tails
Clawed fingers on their wings
This research has led to the nickname “Chickenosaurus.” The goal isn't to create monsters, but to understand how evolution works and how genes change over time. "It’s.“It’s a little creepy but incredibly cool to think scientists can bring back ancient traits like tails or teeth in chickens. It makes me wonder what other secrets lie hidden in DNA.”
By activating or deactivating certain genes, scientists can reveal how ancient features once existed in modern animals.
So, while we won’t see a real T. rex again, we might create something that resembles one—genetically, behaviorally, or visually.
🔬 Could We Build a Dinosaur from Scratch?
“Even if we could bring dinosaurs back… would I actually want to meet one? That question made me think twice. "This is where science fiction and synthetic biology meet. Some scientists imagine a future where we could build a creature “like” a dinosaur, even without original DNA.
Using the DNA of modern animals (like birds or reptiles), scientists might one day recreate traits such as:
Scaly skin
Massive jaws
Long tails
Razor-sharp claws
Although decades will pass before such a breakthrough occurs, it is not impossible.
🌍 But Should We Bring Dinosaurs Back?
Let’s say the science becomes possible. Should we, do it?
Here are a few reasons why scientists are cautious:
Ecosystem risks – Dinosaurs lived in a totally different climate and ecosystem. They might not survive—or worse, they could throw modern environments out of balance.
Ethical concerns – Would these creatures suffer? Could they be properly cared for?
Purpose – What’s the goal? Entertainment, curiosity, or scientific research? Each has very different consequences.
Instead, most scientists agree that the real power of de-extinction lies in saving endangered species, restoring lost ecosystems, and studying evolution and extinction more deeply.
Bringing back a mammoth might help fix Arctic ecosystems. Bringing back a raptor might cause chaos.
📚 What Are We Learning from De-Extinction?
Even if we never bring back a real dinosaur, the technology being developed for de-extinction is helping in other areas, like:
Protecting endangered species through cloning and gene banks
Understanding genetic diseases in animals and humans
Improving conservation through genetic diversity studies
Restoring damaged ecosystems by reintroducing lost species
The big takeaway? De-extinction isn’t about Jurassic Park. It’s about healing the planet—and learning from the past to build a better future.
🌟 Final Thoughts: Dinosaurs in Our DNA
Young scientists, storytellers, and inventors worldwide are inspired by the thrilling prospect
Comments
Post a Comment