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, October 12, 2015
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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I think that is is cool because many animals don't give birth through there mouth some fishes do. its sad that they are extinct and the world lost one of its weirdest frogs
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very weird but cool because I have never heard of a frog that gives birth out of their mouth. if I was to ever see this I would be grossed out but mostly amazed by the way it does it. I would have so many questions about it.
ReplyDeleteI think that weird but unique because you really don't hear about frogs giving birth out of there mouths. Its less fortunate that there habitat got ruined and they are now extinct. The frog must be very small if babies we able to come out of it.
ReplyDeleteThis is weird but unique at the same time . like how could something give birth through its mouth . that sounds trifling I got a weak stomach I'll probably throw up if I seen something like that happen.
ReplyDeleteMe personally i think this frog is amazing. No too many things are known to give birth out of their mouth . I also think it is cool how the frogs stop producing acid in the stomach and the stomach then becomes a place to hold the egg. What made them think about trying to bring this frog back to life? Also i didn't know that scientist and researchers are trying to revive the woolly mammoths and dodos . I wonder what the size of this frog is ? I would want to have one of these frogs as a pet . I wonder what the are gonna do one they revive the frogs and get the population up , maybe release into the wild maybe? I just find these frogs to be very interesting .
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the Lazarus effect was real , but now I know it is. I remember learning about this frog in school and wondering did it really give birth from its mouth. I'm confused on how its possible to resurrect an animal that's extinct. It went extinct for a reason probably I don't understand how and why they did it.
ReplyDeleteWow, after reading this I'm surprised that this is possible. Also, I didn't know the Lazarus effect was actually real, I heard about on the news but now I truly understand what it is. Also I think that's amazing how a frog can give birth from its mouth! Man, I will be great for them to revive extinct animals, I bet a lot of people would be happy to see dodo birds in zoos and other places.
ReplyDeleteI very surprised that a animal can do this. If frog lay eggs and are not mammal does this frog count as a mammal if the babies come from the mouth. I would think if they done this with a frog I wonder why they haven't done this with other species when the deep freezer was made?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very odd but interesting article. I had no clue the Lazarus effect was real, I even saw the movie and thought it was just a fictional movie. It sucks that type of frog with extinct. If I saw this I would be scared kind of it because I would think it would choke trying to give birth to their baby frog.
ReplyDeleteI am speechless. when do you ever hear of a animal giving birth through their mouth. Its crazy how the Lazarus effect is some what real.
ReplyDeleteI think this was a very interesting article. Its weird that this frog can do such a thing. I think they should bring this creature back from being extinct.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty cool if you think about it. They pretty much brought the frog out of extinction. And the frog actually crawls out of the mouth is pretty weird, but cool at the same time. It's weird to the Lazarus effect was just a movie and not real but it is actually happening which is also pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt is cool how they could do this. They could use this to bring back extinct species that could be helpful to the enviroment. This is ciuld just be the beginning of something that could change life as we know it.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a weird but a cool thing at the same time. Because I never heard of a frog actually giving birth through its mouth. but one thing I don't understand is that if frogs aren't mammals then how are they giving live birth?
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that the Lazarus effect was real, Ive never did see the movie because I don't watch scary movies. But I think this is really cool because its one of the few animals out of the whole entire animal kingdom that is able to birth out of its mouth. I didn't even know that was possible.
ReplyDeleteto be honest I think this is kinda weird. I don't really understand why people would want extinct things back to life. it's really weird. but at the same time I think it's kinda cool that you can bring it back again.
ReplyDeleteI think this cool. Because who ever thought the Lazarus effect would be real. I think this could also be scary to because whatever dead should stay dead. I saw the movie the Lazarus effect that's why I think you shouldn't keep doing this. The frog back to life is awesome though.
ReplyDelete