De-extinction: Will we ever bring animals back from extinction?

The RNA may be tiny, microscopic even, but the ramifications of this extraordinary success are significant for ‘de-extinction’ efforts. However, to truly bring back an extinct animal, DNA is not enough. But for now, here are just three more of the animals scientists are trying to literally bring back from the dead. And like the dodo, excessive hunting and habitat destruction by European settlers – plus the introduction of disease – led to the thylacine’s rapid extinction. MORE : Snapshot: Stunning images of the animals we risk sending to extinctionMORE : This plant stinks of rotting corpses – but it still needs saving from extinction