What health problems might occur in animals created through de-extinction methods?

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Replica of a woolly mammoth with long curved tusks and shaggy fur on display in a museum exhibit, set against a dramatic painted landscape backdrop. — de-extinction The woolly mammoth (*Mammuthus primigenius*)—represented here by a replica in a Canadian museum—is an example of an extinct species that someday could be resurrected through de-extinction.

Animals created through de-extinction methods, particularly those involving somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), face significant health risks. A primary concern is the overall health and viability of cloned individuals, as these procedures are often inefficient and prone to developmental complications.1

A notable example of these risks occurred during a 2009 attempt to resurrect the extinct Pyrenean ibex. Although scientists successfully produced a clone, the animal died within minutes of birth due to a severe lung defect. Beyond immediate mortality, there are broader uncertainties regarding whether resurrected animals can successfully adapt to modern environmental conditions or produce viable offspring. Furthermore, because techniques like cloning, back breeding, and genetic reconstruction may result in a genetic constitution that diverges from the original extinct species, the long-term health and biological stability of these animals remain significant areas of scientific concern.1