Capital Berg

Keeps People Up-To-Date

Sunday, March 7, 2021
Log in
  • United States
  • Business
  • Health
  • Science
  • Technology
  • About CapitalBerg
    • Analysts & Contributors
    • Advertising
    • Contact US
    • Privacy Policy GDPR
    • Terms of Use

Pages

  • About CapitalBerg
  • Advertising
  • Analysts & Contributors
  • Contact US
  • Investor Relations
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • SEC Disclosure
  • Terms of Use

Recent Posts

  • Tennessee Rapist Breaks into Woman’s House Three Times the Same Night to Assault Her June 29, 2018
  • Mentally Ill Man Arrested After Breaking into Retirement Home to Grope a Woman’s Chest June 28, 2018
  • “Syndrome” Author Blake Leibel Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder and Torture of Girlfriend June 27, 2018
  • Michigan Dad to Be Sentenced in the Beating Death of 3-Year-Old Infant June 26, 2018
  • Ohio Patrolman Booted from Police After Pulling Over His Daughter and Boyfriend June 26, 2018
  • Utah Mayor Shares Heartwarming Letter of Man Apologizing for Stealing a Stop Sign 75 Years Ago June 25, 2018
  • Mississippi Man Beheaded Mother After A Spat over Credit Cards June 25, 2018

Scientists Hope To Revive The Galapagos Tortoise Species

December 16, 2015 By Denise Ehrlich

"galapagos island tortoise"

In spite of all odds, scientists hope to revive the Galapagos tortoise species originating from three of the islands where their kind has gone extinct. With a bit of help from their closest relatives, it could be the case where the famous animals might make a comeback.

There are three of eight islands around in the Galápagos where the tortoises now no longer exist: Pinta Island, Floreana Island, and Santa Fe Island. These patches of land have remained without their iconic animals, believed to have gone extinct due to failed attempts at assuring their survival.

Their endurance led to their extinction

They were once a thriving species, but that was in the 1500s. In fact, until the 16th century, they were around 250,000 of the Galápagos tortoises around. However, their population took a hard hit, due to their innate ability at remaining without food or water for over a year. They became the perfect takeaway meals for those faring across the seas.

Their species became an important source of food, and their numbers, thus, saw a significant drop. By the 1970s, their population rounded up at just 3,000 specimens. What followed was not a significant improvement.

Lonesome George was believed to be the last surviving Galápagos tortoise from the Pinta Island, until his demise in 2012. Species from the Floreana Island have been considered to be gone for even longer than that. The last encounter was recorded by none other than Charles Darwin, back in 1835. That means that they have been considered extinct for the past 180 years.

And yet, not all hope is lost.

2/3 extinct species could be brought back

Scientists from Yale University believe they can harvest DNA from their closest relatives in order to bring back two of the three extinct Galápagos species. They samples around 1,600 specimens from Isabela Island. Out of the total, 89 of them showed DNA traces of the Floreana Island tortoise, and another 17 had high levels of DNA from the Pinta Island species.

Some of them were even believed to be descendants of the famous Lonesome George. It’s entirely possible considering their kind live up to around 150 years old. With a bit of genetic ingenuity, researchers believe that they could bring the extinct tortoises back to life. In fact, in the next 10 years, their hope is that they could breed species to have 95% of the Pinta or the Florean.

According to geneticist and researcher, Adalgisa Caccone, they’re optimistic that the Galápagos tortoises have “high conservation value”. They would not only be beneficial for the sake of their species, for the environment as well. Experts believe that Galápagos tortoises have a significant role in their ecosystem.

Due to their low center of gravity, they drag across the ground, spreading seeds and nutrients, which keeps the soil healthy. Their simple movement sustains the environment, and a thriving population of their species could be heavily beneficial.

Image source: usydphotosoc.org

  • About the Author

About Denise Ehrlich

Denise would describe herself as one more of an experience witness than a journalist. Soon after graduating, Denise worked as a journalist during the presidential campaign of Senior US Senator John McCain. Since then, much has changed, and Denise found herself gravitating towards world news.

Filed Under: Science

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 44 other subscribers

Recent Articles

sleep

Tennessee Rapist Breaks into Woman’s House Three Times the Same Night to Assault Her

June 29, 2018 By Denise Ehrlich Leave a Comment

police lights

Mentally Ill Man Arrested After Breaking into Retirement Home to Grope a Woman’s Chest

June 28, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

gavel

“Syndrome” Author Blake Leibel Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder and Torture of Girlfriend

June 27, 2018 By Andreas Petersen Leave a Comment

Woods

Michigan Dad to Be Sentenced in the Beating Death of 3-Year-Old Infant

June 26, 2018 By Marlene R. Litten Leave a Comment

patrol cruiser

Ohio Patrolman Booted from Police After Pulling Over His Daughter and Boyfriend

June 26, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

stop sign

Utah Mayor Shares Heartwarming Letter of Man Apologizing for Stealing a Stop Sign 75 Years Ago

June 25, 2018 By June Harris Leave a Comment

Butter knives

Mississippi Man Beheaded Mother After A Spat over Credit Cards

June 25, 2018 By Carol Harper Leave a Comment

XXXTentacion mugshot

Florida Authorities Arrested Suspect in Connection with Shooting of XXXTentacion

June 22, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

sunset over beach

Dallas Mother Accused of Beating Four-Year-Old and Dumping Body Into the Water

June 21, 2018 By Denise Ehrlich Leave a Comment

chicken Alfredo

Ohio Man Sentenced for Trying to Seduce Teenage Boy with Naked Pictures and Chicken Alfredo

June 20, 2018 By Marlene R. Litten Leave a Comment

bedroom

South Carolina Teen and Mates End Up In Slammer for Raping a Teenage Girl

June 19, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

cyberstalkin

California Man Arrested for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend, Hacking Her Online Accounts

June 19, 2018 By June Harris Leave a Comment

hammer

Naked Patient Sneaks out of Emergency Room to Bash Homeowner’s Head with Hammer

June 18, 2018 By Carol Harper Leave a Comment

screwdriver

Middle School Student Attacks Teacher During Class with Screwdriver

June 18, 2018 By Andreas Petersen Leave a Comment

Related Articles

  • Stephen Hawking watching a screen while sitting in his chair

    Stephen Hawking’s Family Sends His Final Message to Space

    Jun 15, 2018
  • super earth exoplanet half in shadow

    Is Gravity the Force Keeping Aliens from Visiting Earth? European Scientists Say So (Study)

    May 8, 2018
  • starbust stars and galaxies in the universe

    Thousands of Early Galaxies Revealed by Map of Old Universe (Study)

    Apr 10, 2018
  • statue of a neanderthal half shadowed

    Scientists Found a Possible Explanation for the Neanderthals’ Big Noses (Study)

    Apr 10, 2018
  • the planet venus

    Could the Clouds of Venus Be Holding Forms of Life?

    Apr 5, 2018
  • NASA and Parker Solar Probe Study

    NASA Ready to Send the Parker Solar Probe on its First Mission

    Mar 7, 2018
  • stars and galaxies in the universe

    Scientists Measure the Expansion Rate of the Universe, Challenge Physics?

    Feb 26, 2018
  • sunspots on the sun in close up

    Is the Sun Going to Get Dimmer and Cooler in the Next Decades? (Study)

    Feb 12, 2018
  • Two mummified brothers

    Egyptian Tale of Two Mummified Brothers Takes Unexpected Turn

    Jan 18, 2018
  • Futuristic robot holding its arms spread

    A New Type of Revolutionary Robotic Muscles Is Strong, Flexible, and Cheap (Study)

    Jan 7, 2018

Categories

  • Business
  • Deals
  • Health
  • Science
  • Technology
  • United States
  • World

Copyright © 2021 capitalberg.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.