Editing Steller's sea cow (section)

=== Genetic research and potential revival ===
In 2021, the [[nuclear genome]] of the species was sequenced from skeletal remains.<ref name="Sharko2021" /> The reconstructed genome showed that the species was already declining due to low genetic diversity caused by climate change and hunting by [[Paleolithic]] humans prior to its discovery by Steller, similar to the final populations of [[Woolly mammoth|woolly mammoths]] on [[Wrangel Island]]. A year later, in late 2022, a group of Russian scientists funded by Sergi Bachin began research to potentially [[De-extinction|revive]] the species and reintroduce it to the Bering Sea. Arctic Sirenia plans to revive the species through [[genome editing]] of the dugong, but an [[artificial womb]] is necessary to conceive a living sea cow due to the lack of an appropriate living surrogate species.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arctic Sirenia |url=https://arcticsirenia.com/#project |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=arcticsirenia.com}}</ref> [[Ben Lamm]] of [[Colossal Biosciences]] has also stated that he and his company want to revive the species after they complete their first four projects ([[Revival of the woolly mammoth|woolly mammoth]], [[dodo]], [[thylacine]], and [[northern white rhinoceros]]) and have an artificial animal womb developed.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Writer |first1=Anna Skinner Senior |last2=Assignment |first2=General |date=2023-12-01 |title=Extinct animals could suddenly be brought back to life |url=https://www.newsweek.com/extinct-animals-could-suddenly-brought-back-life-1848552 |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>