Flower That Grew Only in York Brought Back From Extinction After 30 Years—First Ever British De-Extinction

[Michie]

English media is gushing over the news of the first “de-extinction event” that saw a yellow wildflower unique to northeast England brought back to life.

Extinct since 1991, the York groundsel managed to carry on thanks to a handful of seed that was shed from three potted specimens on a windowsill at the University of York.

Stored at the Millennium Seed Bank in the Kew Gardens, botanists at Natural England organized a resurrection for the York groundsel after they received word the seeds were reaching the end of their lifespan.

Continued below.

Flower That Grew Only in York Brought Back From Extinction After 30 Years—First Ever British De-Extinction

It grew out of every crack in the pavement during the recession of the 1970s, but soon fell prey to widespread weedkiller application.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

 

[chevyontheriver]

English media is gushing over the news of the first “de-extinction event” that saw a yellow wildflower unique to northeast England brought back to life.

Extinct since 1991, the York groundsel managed to carry on thanks to a handful of seed that was shed from three potted specimens on a windowsill at the University of York.

Stored at the Millennium Seed Bank in the Kew Gardens, botanists at Natural England organized a resurrection for the York groundsel after they received word the seeds were reaching the end of their lifespan.

Continued below.

Flower That Grew Only in York Brought Back From Extinction After 30 Years—First Ever British De-Extinction

It grew out of every crack in the pavement during the recession of the 1970s, but soon fell prey to widespread weedkiller application.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

I hold out a bit of hope that they can do that for the Woolly Mammoth. Some parts of Siberia and Canada would be ideal for them today.

 

[Larniavc]

Isn't this just a case of someone planting some seeds that were in storage? As opposed to literal de-extinction.

Not that it's not cool in it's own right but planting some seeds in pretty easy.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Isn't this just a case of someone planting some seeds that were in storage? As opposed to literal de-extinction.

Not that it's not cool in it's own right but planting some seeds in pretty easy.

Extinct in the wild maybe. I think that should count. Sort of.