We have been fascinated with dinosaurs for the longest time. The big reptilian creatures roamed planet Earth long before humans inhabited it. Their remains have been the subject of research for decades and the more we find out about them, the more they intrigue us.
Have you ever wondered if it is actually possible to recreate dinosaurs with DNA as it happened in the blockbuster film franchise ‘Jurassic Park‘? Let’s find out about that possibility and how it might affect our world.
Is It Possible To Recreate Dinosaurs With DNA?
In Steven Speilberg’s ‘Jurassic Park‘, we see some scientists cloning dinosaurs with their DNA inside a mosquito. The film shows that they are able to bring the extinct species of dinosaurs like Triceratops, Velociraptor, and T. rex back into existence. So, can we do that in real life? William Ausich, who is the Professor Emeritus of Paleontology at The Ohio State University, tried to answer this question.
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid and is in every cell of every organism that has ever lived on Earth. This obviously includes dinosaurs. DNA is basically molecules that carry the genetic code, a set of instructions that helps bodies and minds to grow and thrive.
Every individual has a unique DNA and it determines several of the characteristics that define us, like the color of our eyes or whether our hair is straight or curly. They are available on soft parts of our body like organs, nerves, muscles, fat, etc. But dinosaurs’ soft organs were long gone before we even arrived on Earth.
What about extracting dino DNA from their fossils? Unfortunately, it is not going to work since DNA deteriorates and ultimately disintegrates after almost 7 million years. Sounds like a lot? Well, the last dinosaur died at the end of the Cretaceous period. That’s more than 65 million years ago.
Even using the best technologies might not give us the desired result. But scientists recently found DNA fragments of some ancient creatures like mammoths. So, there’s hope and who knows, maybe we will recreate them in the future.
77-Million-Year-Old Gorgosaurus Skeleton To Be Auctioned
For the first time ever, a fossilized skeleton of a Gorgosaurus will be put up for auction. The 77-million-year-old skeleton is a distant relative to Tyrannosaurus rex.
It will be auctioned during an event on July 28 in New York. The event will be organized by Sotheby’s auction house. This is the first instance of a dino skeleton ever being placed for private auction since all the other skeletons are in museum collections.
“In my career, I have had the privilege of handling and selling many exceptional and unique objects, but few have the capacity to inspire wonder and capture imaginations quite like this unbelievable Gorgosaurus skeleton,” Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture, said.
Read More: Chris Pratt Says The “Jurassic World: Dominion” Is Going To Be The Last Movie In The World Series
