A Resurrection biologya scientific discipline that wants to revive Organisms and longmissing molecules has made remarkable progress.
This field is in contrast to the dramatic scenes in “Jurassic Park', focuses on more pragmatic and achievable goals.
Discover some of the most innovative projects in this field that have made significant progress in 2023.
Test tubes with DNA representation Image: Revista Oeste/Reproduction
Reconstructing flavors from the past
A lesserknown but equally fascinating project is recreating the scents of ancient Egyptian mummifications.
Scientists and perfumers have worked together to recreate the smell of mummification balms from 3,500 years ago, providing an olfactory experience that stretches back to the distant past.
Another exciting advance comes from the field of bioengineering, where César de la Fuente from the University of Pennsylvania is exploring the potential of ancient DNA to discover new antibiotics.
Using advanced technologies, his team extracted genetic information Neanderthals and other Ice Age creatures and discovered peptides with antibacterial properties.
This research opens up new possibilities in the fight against drugresistant superbugs.
One of the most fascinating projects is the reactivation of old viruses, socalled “zombie viruses”. With global warming, layers of Permafrost in the Arctic are melting, releasing viruses that have been dormant for thousands of years.
JeanMichel Claverie, a renowned French scientist, has studied these viruses and is concerned about their potential impact on public health.
In 2014, his team managed to reactivate a 30,000yearold virus, and more recent research has isolated even older viruses that are up to 48,500 years old.
The revival of extinct species
Photo of a dodo Image: Adventures in History/Reproduction
Colossal Biosciences is at the forefront of trying to revive extinct species. In 2023, the company announced plans to bring back the dodo, a flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius.
Use of editing techniques genetics and synthetic biology, the company is trying to recreate the dodo from Nicobar pigeon cells.
This bold project aims not only to revive a lost species, but also to better understand the processes of extinction and conservation.
Although resurrection biology is still in its infancy, it promises to revolutionize our understanding of life. Story and medicine.
By reviving the past, we open new doors to the future and bring longlost knowledge back to light.