Should We Bring Back Extinct Animals?
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1-minute overview
De-extinction is the effort to recreate extinct species, or close proxies of them, using genetic technology. Today it rarely means cloning a preserved animal. Instead, scientists sequence ancient DNA, compare it with a living relative\'s genome, and edit the relative\'s cells to carry extinct traits. Colossal Biosciences, founded in 2021, has made the idea prominent. It announced edited gray wolves described as dire wolves in 2025, and it created a woolly mouse as a step toward the mammoth. This October it reported its dodo genome was about 95 percent complete, with Nicobar pigeons as the planned base.
Supporters see scientific discovery, tools that could help endangered relatives, and a chance to repair damage humans caused. Critics say the results are engineered look-alikes, not true revivals. They also worry about animal welfare, unpredictable ecological effects, and money drawn away from protecting species that still exist.
The debate raises practical questions about habitat, safety, and whether extinction can be reversed or only imitated.
Supporters see scientific discovery, tools that could help endangered relatives, and a chance to repair damage humans caused. Critics say the results are engineered look-alikes, not true revivals. They also worry about animal welfare, unpredictable ecological effects, and money drawn away from protecting species that still exist.
The debate raises practical questions about habitat, safety, and whether extinction can be reversed or only imitated.
Useful vocabulary
Approx. CEFR · Topic relevance
de-extinction
The attempt to recreate an extinct species, or a close proxy, using genetic technology.
Supporters call de-extinction a rescue tool, while critics call it an expensive distraction.
genome
/ˈdʒioʊnoʊm/The complete set of genetic material in an organism.
Reconstructing a nearly complete genome is only the first step toward a living animal.
proxy
/ˈprɑksi/A substitute that stands in for something else, such as an edited animal resembling an extinct species.
Is an edited wolf a real dire wolf or merely a proxy?
rewilding
/riˈwaɪldɪŋ/Restoring an area to a more natural state, often by reintroducing species.
Rewilding with mammoth-like animals might change how Arctic grasslands function.
invasive species
A non-native species that spreads and harms the ecosystem it enters.
A recreated animal could become an invasive species if its old habitat has changed.
stewardship
/ˈstuːərdʃɪp/Responsible care and management of something entrusted to people, such as nature.
Some argue that stewardship means protecting living species before reviving lost ones.
Useful expressions
That depends on what we mean by
Clarifying a key term before arguing about it.
That depends on what we mean by bringing an animal back, since an edited look-alike isn\'t identical.
On the one hand, but on the other
Presenting two competing considerations fairly.
On the one hand, the research may yield medical tools, but on the other, it could divert scarce funding.
The burden of proof lies with
Saying who must provide evidence for a claim or plan.
The burden of proof lies with scientists who want to release these animals.
That\'s a fair point, but it overlooks
Politely challenging an argument by naming what it misses.
That\'s a fair point, but it overlooks how much the environment has changed since extinction.
By the same logic
Testing an argument by applying it to another case.
By the same logic, we should also revive every species humans have harmed.
Question list
- Ice breaking
- Main topic
- Free talk
| Q1. | Name a time when slowing down helped you appreciate something important. |
|---|---|
| Q2. | What topic would you explore if you had free access to a library? |
| Q3. | What fictional character do you wish existed? |
| Q4. | How do you maintain balance between work, hobbies, and rest? |
| Q5. | If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go? |
| Q6. | Tell me about a time when patience proved to be your greatest strength. |
| Q7. | Do you try to fix your mistake or leave them as it is? |
| Q8. | What is the significance of 'imagination' in our lives? |
| Q1. | Which extinct animal would you most like to see alive? |
|---|---|
| Q2. | What could people learn from bringing an extinct animal back? |
| Q3. | Would you support this research if living animals needed the same money? |
| Q4. | Where should a recreated animal live? |
| Q5. | What problems could an extinct animal cause in a modern environment? |
| Q6. | Should animals that humans made extinct get priority? |
| Q7. | Would you visit a park with recreated extinct animals? |
| Q8. | What would you want scientists to prove before releasing them? |
| Q1. | Why does clarity sometimes come from unexpected places? |
|---|---|
| Q2. | If you were God for a day, how would you change the world? |
| Q3. | Why do some strangers feel familiar instantly? |
| Q4. | What do you think is the secret to maintaining long-lasting friendships? |
| Q5. | What is one of your most cherished memories involving food and family? |
| Q6. | Who helps you rediscover joy when you feel down? |
| Q7. | Have you ever been deeply moved by a film? |
| Q8. | How can we confront and overcome our fears? |
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