69 replies to this topic

[Dichromate]

Well, it's certainly very interesting, being able to bring back long extinct animals. The last I saw on NatGeo, there was something about putting extinct ox/buffalo genes onto a still-existing kind and watch them slowly turn back into a genetic copy of their predecessor or something like that. From a few months ago, I think.

At the very least this'll make a nice new addition to the zoos. ;p

[ToxicS]

I heard something about this a while ago, guess it seems like it is finally turning into reality.

Pretty cool.

[Narna]

Indeed it does seem interesting, and yes, Jurassic Park, though, would reviving/cloning/"creating" an animal from so long ago be practical?

With global warming going crazy, and the Woolly Mammoth living in such cold conditions, would we need to fly to the coldest place to see it? I don't see it being in a cage at the zoo...

And isn't it like really huge? Wouldn't wanna piss it off or anything

[Ziz]

I doubt that it will be that easy.
Iit's really hard that the African Elephant egg cells are compatible with the mammoths nuclei, and it would be even harder to find an compatible "mother" that could host the bryo.
Hopefully after modifying some generations of elephants it could be possible.

I think that this could be applied to bring back some of the species the humanity has brought to extintion (but I they always use science for militar purposes first, so we have reasons to be afraid).

[Dichromate]

With global warming going crazy, and the Woolly Mammoth living in such cold conditions, would we need to fly to the coldest place to see it? I don't see it being in a cage at the zoo...

I live in a tropical country, and there are polar bears in our zoos. They solve the problem by digging a pit-cage (colder the deeper you go) for it, and putting air-conditionals in it. Of course, the mammoth should be a lot bigger and thicker than a meager polar bear though.

[Noitidart]

What would be the mother for that beast would be my question and according to the article an African elephant can handle it no problem. That is too cool I would soooo love to see a real live wooly mammoth!!

How will it reproduce though? They will have to clone more. Then clones will have to reproduce amongst themselves??? Not possible cuz a clone is a clone so all either male or female. I hope they have some samples of different unrelated mammoths. That would be awesome.

I want to see a sabertooth tiger man. Do they have tissue of that?


Anyone know why 4 years? How long is a typical elephant pregnancy?

[Lychee]

This would be awesome in the literal sense of the word. I hope Professor Iritani can find the tissue he needs in Sibera.

[Sweeney]

The problem of genetic stagnation is really the only ethical issue that occurs to me.

Is it right to revive a species that will not be able to survive without continued, serious medical intervention?

I would say not.

[Waser Lave]

In an era of supposed global warming it's probably not the best idea to choose to bring back a species which thrived in very cold climates.

[Reality]

Animals have already been brought back from extinction by cloning. The pyranean ibex was briefly brought back from extinction but the clone died from lung failure or something.

Of course it's a completely different story though because the tissue samples were only a few years old in that case.

[Nunc]

I like Mammoths, and support their reintroduction, but you must admit that if they were to be brought back, they'd be brought to Russia, their last native habitat. And if that's the case, the US will likely throw a hissy fit and block the project's completion.

That said, I'd love to see mammoths roaming their ancestral lands near Norilsk or Vorkuta

Edited by Nunc, 15 January 2011 - 07:59 AM.

[Random]

inb4dinosaurtakeover

[equitatus]

Why does anyone care if anyone is playing god.........will that incite gods wrath?

[Wil]

5 bucks says PETA gets involved.

[Shadowfool]

I'm going to buy me a wooly mammoth and kill it, for ironies sake.

[Ziz]

Why does anyone care if anyone is playing god.........will that incite gods wrath?

Because trying to bring back extint species from long ago is just wrong.
Something can get wrong (like a lot of times before).

[Waser Lave]

Because trying to bring back extint species from long ago is just wrong.
Something can get wrong (like a lot of times before).

What makes it wrong?

[Ziz]

What makes it wrong?

They were extinct for a reason, and bringing them back to the ecosystem is just wrong.
It's true that human pushed their extinction, and that the tundra is not very different from what it used to be.
But that ecosystem has adapted to what it is now. The mammoths can break the current balance. The nature would adapt, but that impact can accelerate another species extintion.

IMO this can be helpful for bringing back recent extinted animals and trying to re-introduce them, but if they are bringing back mammoths, then they would have to do it very carefully (and I keep thinking it's wrong because of those risks).

[Waser Lave]

They were extinct for a reason, and bringing them back to the ecosystem is just wrong.

Do you regard it as being any different to conservation efforts to save, for example, the giant panda from extinction?

[luvsmyncis]

Do you regard it as being any different to conservation efforts to save, for example, the giant panda from extinction?

By golly.

Pandas are WAY cuter. Therefore they are more important than mammoths.

[Ziz]

Do you regard it as being any different to conservation efforts to save, for example, the giant panda from extinction?

The human is having an great influence driving the Giant Panda to extintion (deforestation and hunting).
Also the Giant Panda have an role in it's ecosystem spreading the bamboo seeds.

The mamoth has no longer a role in it's ecosystem, it would have no natural predators and noone can easily predict their role on the ecosystem.

[Random]

The human is having an great influence driving the Giant Panda to extintion (deforestation and hunting).
Also the Giant Panda have an role in it's ecosystem spreading the bamboo seeds.

The mamoth has no longer a role in it's ecosystem, it would have no natural predators and noone can easily predict their role on the ecosystem.

I'm sure that the scientists are going to let expensive cloning experiments free into the wild.

[Ziz]

I'm sure that the scientists are going to let expensive cloning experiments free into the wild.

I was talking about using this technology for something more useful.
IMHO helping endangered or recent extinct species can be more helpful than cloning mamoths.

[Random]

I was talking about using this technology for something more useful.
IMHO helping endangered or recent extinct species can be more helpful than cloning mamoths.

What are the recently extinct species useful for?

[Ziz]

What are the recently extinct species useful for?

The biodiversity helps keeping an ecosystem balance.
The greater the biodiversity, the stronger/more adaptable it is.
(Mammoths don't count as their enviroment has changed more significatively).