First it was hailed as a “21st century Noah’s Ark” to preserve flora and fauna; now the National Center for Genetic Resources (CNRG) in Tepatitlan could be used to reintroduce extinct species in the style of “Jurassic Park.”
While recreating dinosaurs remains beyond the capabilities of Jalisco scientists, they are confident they could bring back endangered native species such as the Mexican wolf, the Mexican tarantula or the Teporingo “volcano rabbit” should they become extinct.
Founded by the federal government in March, the CNRG has so far been used only for the conservation of plant genes, but now the genetic bank will also house animal DNA in the form of sperm, eggs and embryos.“It is possible to bring an extinct species back into existence, through conservation of germplasm,” said CNRG Director Fernando de la Torre this week.
Due to the compatibility between closely related species, he explained it would be possible to fertizile the embryo of an extinct animal in a laboratory and then implant it into a surrogate mother of a similar genetic makeup.
Mexico is the fourth most biodiverse country on earth and the CNRG is considered a strategic investment to protect its natural riches. Built at a cost of 400 million pesos, it is the only such center in Latin America and the most modern of the world’s 17 genetic banks.