Conceptual illustration of part of the de-extinction process. De-extinction is the concept of reviving extinct species, or creating a new similar species, using recovered DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The DNA of the extinct species (brown) is inserted into the DNA of a similar, extant species (purple and green) using gene-editing technology. The hybridised DNA can then be inserted into the nucleus of an egg cell (oocyte). This egg cell can then be stimulated to develop into a foetus, before being implanted into a surrogate mother from a similar species. This method has yet to be carried out successfully, but is currently (as of April 2024) being used to attempt to revive the woolly mammoth. An Asian elephant cell with inserted mammoth DNA will be used to create a foetus that will be implanted into an African elephant surrogate.