Resurrecting Relicts: Innovative Genetics in Species Recovery Programs
This article is based on the latest industry practices and data, last updated in April 2026.Introduction: Why Bravery Matters in Conservation GeneticsIn my 12 years as a conservation geneticist, I've learned that saving species from the brink of extinction is not for the faint of heart. The term 'relict'—a species that persists after its contemporaries have vanished—carries a weight of urgency and fragility. When I first started working with relict populations, like the vaquita porpoise in the Gulf of California, I realized that traditional conservation methods alone often fail. We need bravery to embrace innovative genetics: de-extinction, genetic rescue, and assisted gene flow. This article shares my personal journey and the hard-won lessons from the field.Bravery, in this context, means making decisions with incomplete data, facing public skepticism, and pushing the boundaries of what's technically possible. For example, in 2021, I was part of a team that considered using CRISPR