CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Scientists have cloned the first U.S. endangered species, a black-footed ferret duplicated from the genes of an animal that died over 30 years ago. ... Cloning eventually could bring back extinct species such as the passenger pigeon.

Can scientists clone extinct animals?

Cloning is a commonly suggested method for the potential restoration of an extinct species. It can be done by extracting the nucleus from a preserved cell from the extinct species and swapping it into an egg, without a nucleus, of that species' nearest living relative. ... Cloning has been used in science since the 1950s.

Can extinct animals be brought back?

There are some species that are extinct that before the last individual died, living tissue was taken and put into deep freeze. So it's able to be brought back as living tissue. ... The only way extinct species could be brought back is if there is living tissue that's going to be found.