Humanity might be able to see dinosaurs in the future! Not those reconstructed bone structures or interpretations in movies like Jurassic Park but real, modern dinosaurs. According to scientists it would be possible to bring dinosaurs back to life through modern technology -- that is, if there is an available dinosaur DNA.
Dinosaurs first appeared during the Triassic period about 231 and 243 million years ago and became extinct about 65 million years ago. There are several theories about the extinction of dinosaurs such as a sudden, extreme climate change which interrupted their food chain, volcanic eruptions and meteorite impact.
All groups of dinosaurs, avian and non-avian are believed to be extinct. However, in the late 20th century, fossil records proved that not all species of dinosaurs are wiped out. A group of small and agile dinosaurs evolved into birds and developed feathers from their reptilian skin according to the BBC.
According to experts even non-avian dinosaurs can be resurrected from extinction. On the book "Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-extinction," science journalist Helen Pilcher said dinosaurs can be brought back to life using its DNA. Previously, scientists tried to de-extinct a wild mountain goat by injecting its DNA to goat eggs however, it soon died due to deformed lungs.
The problem is the DNA -- as of today, paleontologists have only discovered fossils and bones of dinosaurs however, the recent discovery of a preserved dinosaur tail in an amber presents new hope. "What if, many millions of years ago, there had been a hungry mosquito that dined on a dinosaur then became trapped in amber, with its last supper still inside its stomach," Pilcher said according to the New York Post.
She added that it would be possible grow modern dinosaurs if the dinosaur blood cell from the mosquito was recovered and transferred to an egg which has its own DNA removed. This theory seems crazy but still plausible however, the challenge is finding DNA materials from creatures who left the earth millions of years ago.
Meanwhile, some scientists also suggest ways to develop modern dinosaurs without the original DNA by using materials from its predecessors like birds. "By tinkering with the development programs of embryonic chickens... to develop dinosaur-like features like teeth and tails," Pilcher said.
