I'm asking this question because I read in Popular Science that there may be a possibility to revive Extinct species of animals through cloning. Do you think it would be good to bring back the wooly mammoth or saber toothed Tiger? Would they be able to survive in today's world?
2006-07-14 11:18:11 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
If sufficeint DNA could be extracted from the fossils and corpses of these animals it is certainly possible to revive members of the species. It is also probable that with some effective genetic engineering that this could help repopulate extinct species.
Tiger Striped Dog MD
2006-07-14 11:21:35 · answer #1 · answered by tigerstripeddogmd 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Scientist are actually trying to find a way to bring back the Tasmanian Tiger. Check out a book called "Carnivorous Nights".
They would have to use cloning on animals that were very recently extinct or on the verge of extinction, that is animals that still have a place to fit into the ecosystem, animals that human have caused the extinction of. We should not try and bring back animals that did not exist in current times...they would have no range or habitat and would upset the ecological balance and may cause the extinction of other species that exist today.
2006-07-14 18:24:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be a good idea. I don't think you could do it with the wooly mammoth or the saber toothed tiger. They became extinct too long ago. It would be cool to see one live, though! I doubt they'd be able to survive in our world, especially in the summer, too hot. They're Ice Age mammals.
2006-07-14 20:16:06 · answer #3 · answered by jj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think that this could be possible considering there is enough viable DNA to extract from the extinct species but that is the catch. They are extinct and for a reason so why do we need to see them again except for plain curosity? They lived during a times where survival of the fittest was at its maximum, not like it is not like that in our society today but back then was more dangerous. So therefore no, they have no place in our world and breeding them for experiment would be wrong.
2006-07-15 08:56:46 · answer #4 · answered by Samara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I've read the use of old DNA has little to no chance of sucess in cloning. I know for a fact that the wooly mammoth attempt of cloning failed. On the other hand more recent DNA might be feasible to use. As for whether or not it would be good for them to come back, it was best said in Jurassic Park that they were given their chance and failed for a reason.
2006-07-15 00:47:03 · answer #5 · answered by crzylikefox13 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excellent question. It's possible, albeit unlikely do to degradation of DNA over time. I would like to see more research into this topic, and I would definitely like to see woolly mammoths and saber toothed tigers brought back! With proper studies and management, small populations might survive in the tundra of Eurasia.
2006-07-14 18:27:59 · answer #6 · answered by James H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be possible, but the specie could never survive in the wild again. For a specie to survive, it needs to have many individuals (for genetic variability) and it couldn't find a niche again. If it became extinct, it's because its unique niche was so disturbed or destroyed that it disappeared, or because the number of individuals was so little that the recessive genes became expressed and the quality of their genome decay and they couldn't make it.
So, you could bring some individuals back, but just to show them in zoos or circus, and to show how humans can mess with nature so much.
2006-07-14 22:06:12 · answer #7 · answered by Pawqara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, science develop and such question becomes more and more only a question of ethics. I do not think it would be good, because animals are not only biological beings, they also have some social life, they have to have a habitat. It becomes not realistic even for many nowadays animals.. But I am sure that scientists will do that any way, because just curious people have more weight than moral people in present world.
2006-07-14 21:14:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are actually hoping to do it with mammoths ... there are some frozen ones in Siberia (see link). The Tasmanian Tiger is highly unlikely to be revived ... they were working with a young animal pickled in some kind of fluid.
2006-07-15 01:41:29 · answer #9 · answered by myrtguy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they can do that someday, lets pray jurrassic park never happens. Y'know in the first one, where the T-Rex is attacking the 2 cars, and that guy in the suit has to go to the bathroom? He gets eaten on the pot. I would hate that so much!
2006-07-14 18:25:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋