Is it possible to bring back dead organisms to life using DNA?

[hivesaeed4]

Suppose we found a perfectly preserved genome of an extinct species (maybe in a amber). Would it be possible to bring back the organism to life. (I know this question resembles Jurassic Park but I'm looking for realistic answers).

Like let's say a mosquito or some other blood sucking organism sucked the blood of an extinct species and then got preserved in amber. Now if that piece of amber was found and the extinct species DNA was extracted would it be possible to bring back that species to life?

 

[Nik_2213]

At present, IIRC, there's no process for transferring essential epigenetic info. That's why, IIRC, the Japanese team who want to 'clone' woolly mammoths plan to use the nearest extant relative, an elephant, as host mother, hoping for sufficient commonality.

 

[Borek]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0788159364/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Reptillian]

The biggest problem I see to cloning a long extinct animal is that the environment has likely changed much since it was around. People often forget that gene expression is influenced greatly by environmental factors. A tricertops embryo that develops in the modern world might grow to be deformed, have mental or behavioral problems, might not be able to breath, could have problems with overheating, or even it's enzymes or other biochemical structures might not work the way they're supposed to. Even given the genome, you'd have to try to perfectly replicate the environment that the creature developed and lived in if you wanted it to look and act the way it did in the past. Given that some behaviors are learned and passed on, you wouldn't be able to do that.

 

[LudusRex]

I can say that while the idea of bringing back extinct species to life using DNA may seem like a fascinating concept, it is currently not possible with our current technology and understanding of genetics. While DNA contains the genetic instructions for an organism, it is not the only factor that determines an organism's traits and characteristics. Environmental factors, such as diet, habitat, and social interactions, also play a crucial role in an organism's development and survival.

Additionally, DNA can degrade over time, especially in extreme conditions such as being trapped in amber for millions of years. This means that even if we were able to extract DNA from an extinct species, it may not be complete or usable for cloning.

Furthermore, the process of cloning an extinct species would require a living surrogate mother of a closely related species, which may not even exist. And even if we were able to find a suitable surrogate, there is no guarantee that the cloned organism would survive or have the same characteristics as its extinct counterpart.

While advancements in genetic technology and research may one day make it possible to bring back extinct species, it is currently not a realistic possibility. And even if it were, there are ethical considerations to take into account, such as the impact on current ecosystems and the potential for creating genetically modified organisms.

So, while the idea of bringing back extinct species using DNA may be intriguing, it is not a realistic possibility at this time. As scientists, we must continue to study and understand the complexities of genetics and the environment in order to make informed and responsible decisions about the potential resurrection of extinct species.