The beasts we could raise from the dead: Return of the mammoth is 'only a matter of time'

By Fiona Macrae for the Daily Mail
Updated: 08:04 EDT, 8 January 2009

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It has long been synonymous with death.

But the dodo could live again, along with other long-extinct creatures from the fearsome sabre-toothed tiger to the lumbering Neanderthal.

Other beasts of yesteryear ripe for resurrection include the Tasmanian tiger, the woolly rhinoceros and the glyptodon - a VW Beetle-sized armadillo which last roamed the Earth 11,000 years ago.

Ripe for resurrection: The New Scientist claims bringing back the woolly mammoth is now a possibility, with a modern-day elephant being a suitable surrogate mother

This week's New Scientist says that while such feats are well beyond the means of today's best brains, advances in science could lead to a day when they are brought back from the dead.

After all, 50 years ago, who would have believed we'd now be capable of reading the instructions for making humans or clone animals such as Dolly the sheep?

To whet the imagination, the magazine has drawn up a wish list of the ten long-lost creatures it would most like to see brought back to life.

To make the science in any way likely, the list is limited to animals that have gone extinct in the last 100,000 years - ruling out dinosaurs but raising the chances of intact DNA being available for analysis.

The revival recipe also requires a living and closely-related species to act as a surrogate mother, donating an egg and her womb to bring the project to completion.

But the 'Resurrection Park' top ten is not completely rooted in science - it also takes into account each creature's 'mega-faunal charisma' - or thrill factor.

Wish list: The Irish elk, which had antlers up to 13 feet wide, is in the top ten list of species to be revived

Heading the pack is the woolly mammoth, with a genetic code that was unlocked last year and the modern-day elephant thought to be a suitable surrogate mother.

The sabre-toothed tiger, which has been extinct for 10,000 years scores highly on both feasibility and charisma.

Well-preserved DNA specimens are available and the African lion has been earmarked as a good egg donor and surrogate mother.

The woolly rhinoceros is a good bet, with plenty of specimens preserved in permafrost, suitable surrogates available and predictions its complete genetic code will soon be unravelled.

With the Tasmanian tiger, the sourcing of DNA is already taken care of.

The creature has only been extinct for some 70 years and several museums around the world hold specimens preserved in alcohol.

Good bet: The Tasmanian tiger only became extinct 70 years ago and museums have specimens preserved in alcohol

The brevity of a marsupial pregnancy would cut the risk of the interloper being rejected and after birth, the youngster could be raised on milk in an artificial pouch.

But the revival of the glyptodon, a colossal armadillo which rumbled across the South American countryside until 11,000 years ago relies on some DNA being unearthed, likely in a cool, dark cave.

The pregnancy could also prove problematic, as the smaller stature of modern-day armadillos means they would struggle to carry the foetus to term.

And intriguing as the prospect of raising the dodo is, the odds of it waddling again are not sky high.

Despite the dodo being extinct for just 300 years ago, DNA is in short supply.

But if a sample did turn up, the pigeon could provide the rest of the means to bring the flightless bird back to life.

The top ten is completed by the moa, a 10-foot tall antipodean bird, the Irish elk, which sported antlers 13 feet wide, the short-faced bear and the giant ground sloth.

New Scientist concludes: 'Of course, bringing extinct creatures back to life raises a whole host of practical problems, such as where they will live, but let's not spoil the fun.'

The Resurrection List

What is it: Woolly Mammoth

When did it become extinct: These giant creatures first appeared around 4.8million years ago but mysteriously disappeared around 5,000 years ago, possibly due to climate change or hunting.

How could they 'resurrect': Their DNA has already been decoded. If this could be turned into fresh material, the creatures could be cloned with the African elephant acting as a surrogate mother.

What is it: Dodo

When did it become extinct: Hunting and habitat destruction led to the flightless bird's demise in the late 17th century. However, the phrase 'dead as a dodo' has meant it lives on in the imagination.

How could they 'resurrect': If suitable DNA is found it could be used to create clones nursed through pregnancy by pigeons.

What is it: The Sabre-toothed tiger.

When did it become extinct: Despite becoming extinct 10,000 years ago, likely due to environmental changes or over-hunting at the end of the last Ice Age, this fearsome beast with dagger-sharp fangs has remained a source of fascination.

How could they 'resurrect': DNA samples preserved in permafrost or tar could be used to create clones which would be grown inside an African lion.

What is it: Tasmanian tiger

When did it become extinct: Tissue samples of this marsupial, which was hunted to extinction in the 1930s are stored in museums around the world.

How could they 'resurrect': Once sequenced, the DNA could be used to create clones, brought into the world with the help of Tasmanian devil surrogate mothers.

What is it: Glyptodon

When did it become extinct: An armadillo the size of a VW Beetle, the Glyptodon defended itself with a spiky, club-like tail. It disappeared 11,000 years ago.

How could they 'resurrect': There are no frozen Glyptodons, which lived in South America, so recovering DNA would only be possible from well preserved remains in cool, dry conditions such as a cave.

What is it: Irish elk

When did it become extinct: Once found across Europe, the Irish elk had antlers more than 13ft wide and stood two metres tall at the shoulder. It became extinct 7,700 years ago.

How could they 'resurrect': The closest living relative is the much smaller fallow deer, but the two species went their evolutionary ways around 10 million years ago.

What is it: Short-faced bear

When did it become extinct: Despite its name the short-faced bear, which became extinct 11,000 years ago, dwarfed the polar bear - the world's current largest living land carnivore.

How could they 'resurrect': There are specimens encased in permafrost from which DNA could be recovered. The species' closest living relative is the spectacled bear of South America.

What is it: The Neanderthal

When did it become extinct: The Neanderthal disappeared 25,000 years ago, although a draft of its genome is expected to be published later this year.

How could they 'resurrect': Modern humans would provide ideal egg donors and surrogate mothers, but as New Scientist says: 'It is hard to imagine even the most crazed of mad scientists entering such taboo territory'.

What is it: Woolly rhinoceros

When did it become extinct: The woolly rhinocerous became extinct 10,000 years ago.

How could they 'resurrect': Many specimens are preserved in permafrost and hair, horns and hooves could provide DNA. Ironically all modern rhino species are on the brink of extinction.

What is it: Giant ground sloth

When did it become extinct: The giant ground sloth stood nearly six metres tall and is believed to have weighed four tonnes. It disappeared 8,000 years ago.

How could they 'resurrect': Several specimens have been found with hair, but finding a suitable surrogate mother would be a challenge as its nearest living relative - the three-toed tree sloth - is tiny by comparison.

What is it: Moa

When did it become extinct: A distant relative of the ostrich from New Zealand, the Moa disappeared only 508 years ago.

How could they 'resurrect': It might be possible to 'boot up' the Moa genome in an ostrich egg, but no bird of any description has yet been cloned.