Jurassic Park Debunked: The Truth About Dinosaur DNA and De-Extinction

The dream of resurrecting dinosaurs, popularized by the iconic movie "Jurassic Park," has captivated the imagination of many. However, a recent video on Imgur titled "So Jurassic Park is a bunch of b*******?!? Well it was nice while it lasted *proceeds to burn it all down*" has sparked a heated discussion about the feasibility of dinosaur de-extinction. The video features a detailed explanation of why bringing dinosaurs back to life is scientifically impossible, despite the tantalizing possibilities shown on the big screen.

Colossal, a company focused on the mission of de-extinction, clarifies that their goals do not include resurrecting dinosaurs. The science behind de-extinction is far more complex and limited than most people realize. Dinosaurs went extinct more than 65 million years ago, and the oldest DNA recovered so far dates back only 1 to 2 million years. DNA degrades significantly over time, typically disappearing after 10,000 to 20,000 years. This means dinosaur fossils, which are essentially rocks, contain no retrievable DNA.

The video also debunks the popular myth that DNA can be extracted from mosquitoes preserved in amber. Although the idea is intriguing, amber is not a conducive environment for DNA preservation. It forms in hot conditions that accelerate DNA decay, and its porous nature allows microbes to infiltrate and destroy any remaining DNA. As a result, there is no DNA in mosquitoes encased in amber or in dinosaur fossils, making dinosaur de-extinction an impossibility.

The Imgur community had varied reactions to the video. One user humorously suggested, "Yeah, you just gotta splice in some frog DNA and it’ll all work out," while another expressed disappointment despite already knowing the scientific facts. A user even joked about Jeff Goldblum, who played Dr. Ian Malcolm in "Jurassic Park," being able to extract dino-DNA from an ancient mosquito in amber.

Some comments took a more creative turn, with one user proposing the idea of time travel as a solution, while another suggested experimenting with bird DNA to create dinosaur approximations. The discussion also touched on other aspects of de-extinction, such as the potential comeback of the Thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf.

One user humorously mentioned, "I have a tech company that's going to bring back dinosaurs using crypto technology. I am training AI to write dinosaur DNA, which will be simulated in the metaverse, then brought to life using the blockchain. To fund this, I am selling dinosaur NFTs." This comment highlights the blend of futuristic technology and imagination that often surrounds the topic of de-extinction.

Despite the scientific impossibility of resurrecting dinosaurs, the fascination with the concept and the creative ideas it inspires continue to thrive. The discussion around the video serves as a reminder of how influential and enduring the "Jurassic Park" franchise remains, even as science sheds light on the limits of de-extinction.

For those intrigued by the science behind de-extinction and the potential for bringing back other extinct species like the Thylacine, the video on Imgur and the ensuing conversation offer a fascinating glimpse into the complexities and limitations of this field. While the dream of a real-life "Jurassic Park" may be out of reach, the exploration of de-extinction continues to push the boundaries of what is scientifically possible.