News Release

World first discovery -- genes from extinct Tasmanian tiger function in a mouse

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PLOS

Researchers from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and the University of Texas, USA, have extracted genes from the extinct Tasmanian tiger (thylacine), inserted it into a mouse and observed a biological function – this is a world first for the use of the DNA of an extinct species to induce a functional response in another living organism.

The results, published in the international scientific journal PLoS ONE this week, showed that the thylacine Col2a1 gene has a similar function in developing cartilage and bone development as the Col2a1 gene does in the mouse.

“This is the first time that DNA from an extinct species has been used to induce a functional response in another living organism,” said Dr Andrew Pask, RD Wright Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Zoology who led the research.

“As more and more species of animals become extinct, we are continuing to lose critical knowledge of gene function and their potential.”

“Up until now we have only been able to examine gene sequences from extinct animals. This research was developed to go one step further to examine extinct gene function in a whole organism,” he said.

“This research has enormous potential for many applications including the development of new biomedicines and gaining a better understanding of the biology of extinct animals,” said Professor Richard Behringer, Deputy Head of the Department of Molecular Genetics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, at the University of Texas, who is the corresponding author on the paper.

The last known Tasmanian tiger died in captivity in the Hobart Zoo in 1936. This enigmatic marsupial carnivore was hunted to extinction in the wild in the early 1900s.

Researchers say fortunately some thylacine pouch young and adult tissues were preserved in alcohol in several museum collections around the world.

The research team used thylacine specimens from Museum Victoria in Melbourne Australia to examine how the thylacine genome functioned.

The research team isolated DNA from 100 year old ethanol fixed specimens. After authenticating this DNA as truly thylacine, it was inserted into mouse embryos and its function examined.

The thylacine DNA was resurrected, showing a function in the developing mouse cartilage, which will later form the bone.

“At a time when extinction rates are increasing at an alarming rate, especially of mammals, this research discovery is critical,” says Professor Marilyn Renfree, Federation Fellow and Laureate Professor in the University of Melbourne’s Department of Zoology, the senior author on the paper.

“For those species that have already become extinct, our method shows that access to their genetic biodiversity may not be completely lost.”

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For photographs and more information, please contact:
Dr Andrew Pask
Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 8344 4346
Mob: +61 (0)438 053 440
Email: ajpask@unimelb.edu.au

Professor Marilyn Renfree
Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 8344 4376
Mob: +61 (0)414 716 460
Email: m.renfree@zoology.unimelb.edu.au

Rebecca Scott
Media Officer
University of Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61 3 8344 0181
Mobile: +61 (0)417 164 791
Email: rebeccas@unimelb.edu.au

Citation: Pask AJ, Behringer RR, Renfree MB (2008) Resurrection of DNA Function In Vivo from an Extinct Genome. PLoS ONE 3(5): e2240. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002240

PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT (URL live from May 20): http://www.plosone.org/doi/pone.0002240

PRESS-ONLY PREVIEW: http://www.plos.org/press/pone-03-05-pask.pdf


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