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Science & Technology

Should we really bring back extinct species ?

By T.K. Randall
February 28, 2017 · Comment icon 53 comments

Is it really a good idea to resurrect the mammoth ? Image Credit: CC BY-SA 2.0 Flying Puffin
A new study has indicated that resurrecting long-extinct species could ultimately do more harm than good.
In the movie 'Jurassic Park', Jeff Goldblum's character Ian Malcolm famously questions whether bringing dinosaurs back to life after millions of years is actually a good idea.

While many aspects of the film remain firmly rooted in science fiction, the possibility of resurrecting extinct animals remains very real indeed, with some scientists even predicting that the woolly mammoth could be brought back to life within a couple of years.

Now though, a new international study in to the impact of resurrecting long-extinct species has suggested that Malcolm may have actually been right all along.

One issue is that "de-extinction" is likely to be - at least to begin with - very expensive. Spending money on it will remove funds that could have saved a species from going extinct in the first place.
"Without major increases in budgets, it would be like a one-step forward, two-step back scenario," said study co-author Joseph Bennett from Carleton University.

The option to resurrect an extinct animal might also reduce enthusiasm for conservation efforts in general - why struggle to save a species when they can just be brought back afterwards ?

It is also important to contemplate the ethics of resurrecting an extinct species - would a woolly mammoth be accepted by a herd of modern elephants ? What sort of life would it have ?

Such considerations will likely become increasingly important over the next few decades.

Source: Tech Times | Comments (53)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #44 Posted by Paranormal Gal 7 years ago
Ok first off i don't own NO animal's. I look for GMO free foods if i can't see GMO free i don't. Buy it. So to say i contribute to it with out known is judging me before the facts.
Comment icon #45 Posted by glorybebe 7 years ago
There are so many foods that don't state they are GMO.  We try not to eat processed foods, but even the vegetables are from modified seeds.  It is so hard to get away from! 
Comment icon #46 Posted by Carnivorfox 7 years ago
As glorybebe said, even foods with GMO's on the label often still contain them. Even if you don't contribute, do you actively go against it? Do you understand why it isn't always a bad thing?
Comment icon #47 Posted by Paranormal Gal 7 years ago
Listen i agree that it is all B.S but to tell someone they are contribute to the problem with out facts about the person is wrong i don't bear false witness on no one. I was just giving my opinion on what it would be like IF they brought them back. I know them is impossible to old. What people in government science does wont make a dent because they will do whatever they want.  Talked about dinos in this thread not gmo. So i hope you have a good day because i am not gonna get pulling into this because it is not about dinos. So i hope you have a good.
Comment icon #48 Posted by oldrover 7 years ago
  But why? I mean what justifies the expense to study a single species, it's not as if there aren't going to be some serious flaws in that experiment's methodology.   Possibly, but I do question the morality of such an act, assuming as seems reasonable that they'll have similar intelligence levels to modern elephants these would be highly intelligent and sensitive creatures, I just don't think it's fair, or at least I think the ethics would need to be gone over very carefully.  And again, I have serious moral objections to money being diverted to this while extant species are in desperate j... [More]
Comment icon #49 Posted by Carnivorfox 7 years ago
The same techniques can be used to preserve endangered species as well.
Comment icon #50 Posted by glorybebe 7 years ago
IMO preserving species should be concentrated on, not bringing back animals that nature decided to eliminate.
Comment icon #51 Posted by Tatetopa 7 years ago
Some wag once said "The problem with young people today is the lack of large predators."   Will we put it to the test?
Comment icon #52 Posted by oldrover 7 years ago
And that is where it should be focussed in my opinion. 
Comment icon #53 Posted by and then 7 years ago
This is an aspect that probably isn't considered as much as it should be.  I agree totally.  


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