Genetic Manipulation Chamber

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed to prevent the extinction of threatened species. To receive threatened status, the species must meet specific bureaucratic criteria, which includes evidence of decline, the factors attributing to the decline and the purity of the species. The ESA’s criterion has led the exclusion of some species from protection based on its natural genetic hybridization. An example of this is the Red Wolf. DNA analysis suggests that the red wolf is a hybrid between a grey wolf and a coyote. Human induced genetic hybridization can also be an expensive last resort to save a species such as the Florida Panthers. Urbanization led to the segregation of small groups of Panthers resulting in genetic defects due to inbreeding. In response, scientists delivered a small population of female Texas pumas to combat the lack of genetic diversity.