The Tasmanian tiger has become the first extinct animal from which scientists have recovered RNA, the molecule that brings a specie's genome to life.

It might sound like the plot of Jurassic Park but scientists believe they can revive the extinct thylacine.

Whereas RNA is a single-stranded molecule that carries genetic information it receives from the DNA, putting this information into practice. Daniela Kalthoff, in charge of the mammal collection at the Museum of Natural History, said the idea of possibly resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger was an “exciting idea”.

However, Dr Mármol and his colleagues note that their findings hold significance for global initiatives aimed to resurrect extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, as well as for studying pandemic RNA viruses.