The De-Extincting Science in Jurassic World Is Right Around the Corner

Twenty five years ago, Michael Crichton captured our imaginations with the crazy idea that scientists might one day resurrect dinosaurs. But on the eve of Jurassic World’s release a quarter century later, the prospect of bringing back extinct creatures is looking a lot less science fictional.

We’ll probably never bring back Tyrannosaurus rex. (Mosquitos with perfectly preserved dino DNA in their guts are a bit like magical leprechauns, though scientists did recently discover what they believe is dinosaur blood in fossils). But for species we’ve driven extinct in recent history, from the passenger pigeon to the Chinese river dolphin to the gastric brooding frog and even the woolly mammoth, we may yet be able to reverse time, thanks to incredible advances in genomics and synthetic biology.

In tribute to our undying love for massive reptilian killing machines, and the impossible dream that they’ll one day rule the Earth again, let’s explore the science of de-extincting life.

Awakening the Dead

On a midsummer’s day in 2003, a group of Spanish and French scientists helped a goat...