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Published online 20 May 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.841

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Tasmanian tiger gene lives again

Functioning gene of extinct animal gives hope for studying long-lost species.

The extinct Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) has been resurrected — or at least part of its DNA has — in a mouse.

Typically of Australia's weird and wonderful animals, the Tasmanian tiger, also called the thylacine, wasn't actually a tiger.

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  • Hi, I am researcher pursuing my Ph.D. in the field of Developmental biology in Germany.I do appreciate your findings.But I have two small queries,the gene Col2a1 which you injected in the mouse embryo,how much worth doing it was if you had aim to creat the whole animal,firstly? Secondly,can you sequence the whole genome of the Tasmania tiger from your available specimen? I am very much keen to know the whole methodology you have adopted also.Since I have no access to PLoS ONE, is it possible for you guys to provide you the article.

    • 20 May, 2008
    • Posted by: Soumya Ghosh
  • An interesting research. But why choose the specific gene from so many candidates? I guess it might because the gene is known to work and function relatively independently.

    • 21 May, 2008
    • Posted by: Xiao Yi