The pearly mussel was once very abundant in all rivers in the eastern U.S., especially in the Ohio River. The biggest obstacles that the tubercled blossom aka pearly mussel could not overcome was the turbidity (lack of water clarity) and the increased sediment in the waterways they called home, mostly from deforestation and farming along the rivers. The addition of dams and pollution added to the mussel's fate. These mussels require relatively calm waters to fertilize their eggs. Once the eggs hatch the female releases the larvae into the water. The babies drift through the water. If they manage to attach to the gills of a host fish, they will develop and grow into an adult. Once they reach a certain size, they release from the fish's gills and settle to the bottom of the river and can live there for 50 years. The last specimen was found at Kanawha Falls, West Virginia in 1969 where its species entered the "pearly" gates. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The tubercled blossom might be a candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from the few remaining specimens at museums. If the pearly mussel was brought to life, could it ever be reintroduced to its native homeland in the Ohio River? The environment these mussels require is still a work in progress. While many laws have been passed to clean up the rivers this mussel once called home, the fact that most fresh water mussels in North America are still endangered does not bode well. Since filter feeders such as clams, oysters, and mussels are not in many of these environments in great numbers any more, human efforts are needed. It is ironic that the natural "cleaners" of the environment need the environment to be cleaned, so they could thrive again. A little too ironic, don't you think?