Updated 28 May 2002, 18.11

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The tiger became extinct in 1936 when it was killed off by people who blamed it for killing sheep.

But now it could be on its way back, because of a 130-year-old baby that has been preserved in a jar.

The scientists have managed to take DNA from the baby, and have now been able to recreate the animal's entire DNA structure.

It's like something out of Jurassic Park.

Lots of work to do

			Fact File
	What is DNA?
		It carries the instructions to build a body
		It is inherited from parents
		It looks like two strands coiled round each other

The breakthrough could lead to the Tasmanian tiger being recreated and released back into the wild.

It would be the first time such a thing has happened.

However, the scientists could be in for a long wait, because no one has worked out yet how to create a new animal from the DNA.

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