So I found this story a while ago and it made me really happy, the world has started to change with the idea that extinct species are missed and there has been some work done to try to bring some of them back. I have interest in this field when it comes to animals and plant species. I was sparked when I heard that the thylascine or Tasmanian tiger is in the process of being cloned in Australia to hopefully revive a presumed extinct species (still the odd sighting being documented but most believe extinct).
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=120013&page=1 This is just one story look deeper and it’s pretty interesting if your into this!
So to make a long post shorter I found the story about the judean date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) named Methuselah was found at an archaeological site named Masada (current Israel). This seed was germinated in Tel Aviv and became the oldest known plant to germinate with human assistance. This specimen has grown since 2005 under great care of its helpers and is now over 3m tall and producing viable pollen. There are a few female seeds also germinated just later so they are not viable yet for reproduction. Here’s just one link but if your interested this is amazing and look into it.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150324-ancient-methuselah-date-palm-sprout-science/
If you have any opinions or more info that would be current on either of these stories or others like them please comment I’m very interested!!