5. Scimitar Toothed Cat
The saber-toothed cats were awe-inspiring apex predators that once roamed the Earth. Among them was the scimitar toothed cat (Homotherium latidens), whose genome was successfully sequenced in 2020 by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. This ancient feline, distantly related to modern cats, could weigh over a ton and measure up to 10 feet in length. While the possibility of de-extincting the scimitar toothed cat is tantalizing, the lack of close modern relatives poses significant challenges. Nevertheless, the successful sequencing of the genome raises hope that future advancements in genetic manipulation and breeding could potentially lead to the resurrection of this formidable creature.
