Giant tortoises still represent the living symbol of the Galápagos archipelago, even as four of the fifteen species have long since been exterminated by human activity in the region. However, one of them could be brought back to life based on genetic techniques applied to museum-preserved specimens.

 

When Charles Darwin made his legendary trip to Galápagos in 1835, 15 species of giant tortoises (Geochelone spp.) aided the great scientist in elaborating his revolutionary theory on evolution and the origin of species. One of them in particular, G. elephantopus, which once thrived on the Floreana island, disappeared soon after his visit, nearly 15 years later. The tortoise species were clear examples of the natural selection and geological history's impact on the organism diversification.

 

The humans' settling in the area, followed by their hunting the animals for food, soon led to the extinction of the Floreana-based saddle-shaped shell tortoise. Recently, though, scientists claimed to have found its genes in populations of tortoises from the surrounding isles. Latest DNA comparisons of the Floreana specimens from museum collections to that belonging to the ones living on the Isabela island indicated that they were closely related.

 

By using mitochondrial DNA as well as microsatellite data gathered from museum specimens, Nikos Poulakakis from Yale University showed that the Floreana tortoise population was different in terms of evolution from all the other populations living in Galápagos. The distinct species discovered on the Isabela island was also found not to be native to that area, which might explain their Floreana ancestry.

 

This finding, together with today's advancements in genetics, may help recreate enough individuals in order to begin a massive captive breeding program. In time, this will ensure the new rise of the G. elephantopus breed, proving both the level and capability of the genetic engineering, and the importance of the specimens preserved in museums for genetics.