Gastric-Brooding Frog Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
In 1983, the world lost one of its weirdest frogs. The gastric-brooding frog, native to tiny portions of Queensland, Australia, gave birth through its mouth, the only frog to do so (in fact, very few other animals in the entire animal kingdom do this--it's mostly this frog and a few fish). It succumbed to extinction due to mostly non-human-related causes--parasites, loss of habitat, invasive weeds, a particular kind of fungus. There were two subspecies, the northern and souther gastric-brooding frog, and they both became extinct in the mid-80s sometime.
Except--what if they didn't?
Taking place at the University of Newcastle, the quest to revive the gastric-brooding frog became known as the Lazarus Project. Using somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), a method for cloning, the project has achieved the major step forward of creating an early embryo of the extinct frog. Essentially, they found a related frog--the great barred frog, which also lives in Queensland and has cool eye markings, like it's wearing sunglasses--deactivated its eggs, and replaced them with eggs taken from the extinct frog.
Even though the gastric-brooding frog has been extinct for decades, it's possible to do this because individual specimens were kept preserved in, believe it or not, everyday deep freezers. When going through somatic-cell nuclear transfer, the eggs began to divide and form into the early embryo stage.
The embryos didn't survive much longer than that, but it was confirmed that these embryos contain genetic information from the gastric-brooding frog--that yes, in fact, they have brought it back to life. The researchers are confident that this is a "technical, not biological" problem at this stage to breed gastric-brooding frogs to adulthood. This is a big step forward for the worldwide attempts to revive extinct animals--the Lazarus Project researchers will soon meet with those working to revive the woolly mammoth, dodo, and other extinct beasties to share what they've learned.
Oh, and in case you were wondering: the gastric-brooding frog lays eggs, which are coated in a substance called prostaglandin. This substance causes the frog to stop producing gastric acid in its stomach, thus making the frog's stomach a very nice place for eggs to be. So the frog swallows the eggs, incubates them in her gut, and when they hatch, the baby frogs crawl out her mouth. How delightfully weird!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Scientists Resurrect Bonkers Extinct Frog That Gives Birth Through Its Mouth
It's been gone since 1983, but the Lazarus Project has brought it back to life.
Gastric-Brooding Frog Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
In 1983, the world lost one of its weirdest frogs. The gastric-brooding frog, native to tiny portions of Queensland, Australia, gave birth through its mouth, the only frog to do so (in fact, very few other animals in the entire animal kingdom do this--it's mostly this frog and a few fish). It succumbed to extinction due to mostly non-human-related causes--parasites, loss of habitat, invasive weeds, a particular kind of fungus. There were two subspecies, the northern and souther gastric-brooding frog, and they both became extinct in the mid-80s sometime.
Except--what if they didn't?
Taking place at the University of Newcastle, the quest to revive the gastric-brooding frog became known as the Lazarus Project. Using somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), a method for cloning, the project has achieved the major step forward of creating an early embryo of the extinct frog. Essentially, they found a related frog--the great barred frog, which also lives in Queensland and has cool eye markings, like it's wearing sunglasses--deactivated its eggs, and replaced them with eggs taken from the extinct frog.
Even though the gastric-brooding frog has been extinct for decades, it's possible to do this because individual specimens were kept preserved in, believe it or not, everyday deep freezers. When going through somatic-cell nuclear transfer, the eggs began to divide and form into the early embryo stage.
The embryos didn't survive much longer than that, but it was confirmed that these embryos contain genetic information from the gastric-brooding frog--that yes, in fact, they have brought it back to life. The researchers are confident that this is a "technical, not biological" problem at this stage to breed gastric-brooding frogs to adulthood. This is a big step forward for the worldwide attempts to revive extinct animals--the Lazarus Project researchers will soon meet with those working to revive the woolly mammoth, dodo, and other extinct beasties to share what they've learned.
Oh, and in case you were wondering: the gastric-brooding frog lays eggs, which are coated in a substance called prostaglandin. This substance causes the frog to stop producing gastric acid in its stomach, thus making the frog's stomach a very nice place for eggs to be. So the frog swallows the eggs, incubates them in her gut, and when they hatch, the baby frogs crawl out her mouth. How delightfully weird!
Gastric-Brooding Frog Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
In 1983, the world lost one of its weirdest frogs. The gastric-brooding frog, native to tiny portions of Queensland, Australia, gave birth through its mouth, the only frog to do so (in fact, very few other animals in the entire animal kingdom do this--it's mostly this frog and a few fish). It succumbed to extinction due to mostly non-human-related causes--parasites, loss of habitat, invasive weeds, a particular kind of fungus. There were two subspecies, the northern and souther gastric-brooding frog, and they both became extinct in the mid-80s sometime.
Except--what if they didn't?
Taking place at the University of Newcastle, the quest to revive the gastric-brooding frog became known as the Lazarus Project. Using somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), a method for cloning, the project has achieved the major step forward of creating an early embryo of the extinct frog. Essentially, they found a related frog--the great barred frog, which also lives in Queensland and has cool eye markings, like it's wearing sunglasses--deactivated its eggs, and replaced them with eggs taken from the extinct frog.
Even though the gastric-brooding frog has been extinct for decades, it's possible to do this because individual specimens were kept preserved in, believe it or not, everyday deep freezers. When going through somatic-cell nuclear transfer, the eggs began to divide and form into the early embryo stage.
The embryos didn't survive much longer than that, but it was confirmed that these embryos contain genetic information from the gastric-brooding frog--that yes, in fact, they have brought it back to life. The researchers are confident that this is a "technical, not biological" problem at this stage to breed gastric-brooding frogs to adulthood. This is a big step forward for the worldwide attempts to revive extinct animals--the Lazarus Project researchers will soon meet with those working to revive the woolly mammoth, dodo, and other extinct beasties to share what they've learned.
Oh, and in case you were wondering: the gastric-brooding frog lays eggs, which are coated in a substance called prostaglandin. This substance causes the frog to stop producing gastric acid in its stomach, thus making the frog's stomach a very nice place for eggs to be. So the frog swallows the eggs, incubates them in her gut, and when they hatch, the baby frogs crawl out her mouth. How delightfully weird!
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The Lazarus project is super weird but it's interesting that our sciences are developing so well that we're basically able to bring back a species even though it was extinct even decades ago. This would definitely be my favorite frog if it was one brought back from the dead.
ReplyDeleteThat is insanely weird! What if the frog choked on the baby when giving birth to it? Even though frogs aren't my favorite animal this is pretty cool but pretty weird. That's so weird that the frog just crawled out of the moms frog mouth like its no big deal.
ReplyDeleteI have never thought of an animal giving birth through it's mouth before. When i read this i thought it was very weird, but yet a little intresting at the same time. I wonder how the frogs know to just crawl out of the mouth like that.
ReplyDeleteIf there isn't any gastric acid on the frog's stomach, doesn't that mean it can't digest food?? And like Brandi said, it is interesting that the baby frogs know how to just climb out of the mouth. The Lazarus project sounds pretty amazing to put it in simple words. But let's just hope they don't go overboard with bringing back extinct animals since it could end dangerous.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty cool. It brings interest to me, but I cant see the baby frogs just knowing where to go and when. If I was a baby frog in the frogs stomach, I would probably stay in their my whole life because I wouldn't know how to get out. If you think about it, frogs are very smart. This would be one of my favorite amphibians if it is brought back.
ReplyDeletethat is weird but smart cause that offers more protection for the baby also good be bad cause they baby could die suffocate but the reason anything is extinct cause of over use of resources and wiping out there habitat
ReplyDeleteThis is so weird. I've never heard of this before. Wont the frog like choke with a baby in its throat. Its cool that can do this but its weird.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of anything like this before. I can see this being dangerous such as the mother choking or swallowing back up the baby, or the baby getting stuck in the throat and die. Im also wondering if this species of frog adapted to this way of birth for some reason, or has this been the way these species of frogs has been giving birth since they started living.
ReplyDeleteA frog giving birth through its mouth is weird because like humans, females dont give birth out of there mouth. The mother frog could accidentally swallow r choke on the baby and she could die as well as the baby.
ReplyDeleteit think its cool that they brought an extinct frog back to life. Whats even cooler is that the frog can swallow the eggs and then when they hatch, have them come out of there mouth. Very Interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat is weird. I think it is cool how the mom can keep them in her bell then just like almost cough them up and they would be alive. As many other people said how does the mom not choke on them and how do they just know how to crawl right out?
ReplyDeleteThis is weird for the mother frog to give birth threw its mouth because she can probably choke while giving birth but it would be cool if they came back.
ReplyDeleteI never knew an Animal can give birth through its mouth, I honestly think that's weird. Because why Would you want your baby to come out your mouth . What if something happens and the Mother frog choke are something , would it come back ? but Yea its really weird if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteThat is...delightful? Anyways the Lazarus project seems somewhat pretty cool and I'd love see this frog re introduced to its home land. But the main thing here is how long would it take them to go extinct again? I mean I'm sure they could do it all over again but how many more times could they? It seems like a big problem for science but still a great advantage, great job science!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know it was possible for anything to give birth through its mouth. It seems like it would be very dangerous for both the baby and the mother. I would like to know the the babies know what to do to get out. I really hope scientists are able to bring these frogs back because they are really cool.
ReplyDeleteHow big does a frog's mouth have to be for ? Them to give birth through it? I couldn't imagine a human being giving birth that way because it's impossible. Since they brought the frog back to life does that mean more frogs will give birth this way over time?
ReplyDeletethis is a really cool idea. having species that was extinct to come back to life is pretty cool. although its really weird and disgusting that they are born through their mouths. if scientist can make frog species that was extinct to come back to life, they might be able to bring others back, like dinosaurs!
ReplyDeleteI think its cool how they brought it back to life. If they could do this for other extinct animals this would be great for biologist. They can use so they can study animals they could never study before
ReplyDelete