Turning Back the Clock: How Genetics is Helping us Bring Back Lost Species

Around the world, many amazing plants and animals are disappearing from places they once called home. To address this, scientists may consider moving plants or animals from other places back into areas where they have disappeared. This process is known as reintroduction. Reintroductions are like complex puzzles. To be successful, they require information about the species, their biology, the environment, and even their genes. In this article, we discuss how scientists ensure the genetic health of populations. As genetic methods improve, so will our ability to restore species in places where they have been lost.