Mason Kuyper
Volume 2, Issue 1
Published: 20 March 2026
The acceleration of global biodiversity loss has increased interest in de-extinction (also known as resurrection biology) as a modern solution to address species loss. Through a synthesis of current genetic, ecological, and ethical literature, this paper evaluates the feasibility of de-extinction from scientific and practical lenses. It argues that despite its theoretical appeal, de-extinction is currently constrained by three major limitations: (1) technical barriers to the cloning of ancient DNA, CRISPR gene editing, and somatic cell nuclear transfer; (2) the impossibility of replicating extinct phenotypes, which are shaped by lost environmental conditions; and (3) the extensive cost and resource consumption required by de-extinction versus methods relating to the proactive conservation of threatened, yet non-extinct species. Given these significant challenges, this paper suggests that funding and research should largely be redirected away from de-extinction projects and towards applied conservation genetics like genetic rescue of endangered populations. This reallocation would be a more ethical, practical, and ultimately impactful strategy for addressing the ongoing Holocene extinction.
De-Extinction, Resurrection Biology, Conservation Genetics, Biodiversity Crisis, Crispr, Cloning, Ecological Restoration
Mason Kuyper, Independent Researcher, Minnesota, USA.
Kuyper, M. (2026). The Scientific and Practical Limitations of De-Extinction. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 2(1), 01-04.