Social Scientists are engineering Woolly Mammoths

Will be interesting to see which group of loonies freaks out over this and which group becomes 1000% for this just because it pisses the other side off.
 
EL CORINTHIAN said:
Would there be any benefit to reviving these sorts of extinct animals?
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Yes, but not for the reason you think.
The wooly mammoth is the "sexy" animal to revive. Most people are familiar with what a wooly mammoth was, that helps generate buzz in the news media. Investors are more likely to invest in reviving a wooly mammoth than a Bachman's Warbler.
Once they get the science figured out with the mammoth, they can use that knowledge to revive recently extinct animals that could be reintroduced.
Another advantage would be being able to introduce more genetic diversity into genetically extinct species. Once an animal population gets under 50 individuals, genetic diversity starts dropping rapidly, you start getting inbreeding, and the species isn't going to last long. Now, if you could extract DNA from a specimen whose family lineage died 150 years ago, you might be able to reintroduce those genetics back into the species, and save it from genetic extinction.
 
What's crazy is that they found recently dead Wollys on an artic expedition just a few hundred years ago.

Lots of animals went extinct 300-500 years ago.
 
jefferz said:
Yes, but not for the reason you think.
The wooly mammoth is the "sexy" animal to revive. Most people are familiar with what a wooly mammoth was, that helps generate buzz in the news media. Investors are more likely to invest in reviving a wooly mammoth than a Bachman's Warbler.
Once they get the science figured out with the mammoth, they can use that knowledge to revive recently extinct animals that could be reintroduced.
Another advantage would be being able to introduce more genetic diversity into genetically extinct species. Once an animal population gets under 50 individuals, genetic diversity starts dropping rapidly, you start getting inbreeding, and the species isn't going to last long. Now, if you could extract DNA from a specimen whose family lineage died 150 years ago, you might be able to reintroduce those genetics back into the species, and save it from genetic extinction.
Click to expand...

The genetic diversity bit is good. Didn't even think about that to be honest.
 
Bring the giant one horned rhino while you're at it.

Oh and the Giant American Lion and Short-faced bear too.
 
There have been perpetual news reports like this since the mid 90's offering the same promises.
I remember when Jurassic Park came out it became a fun pop-science topic to dream about...
 
Bring back Smilodon and the short faced bear. What could possibly go wrong if they escape?
 
Why. Are they going to sell, I don't know, woolly mammoth sweaters for $25,000 a piece?
COLD this winter? Looking to get some prehistoric-grade heating for your expeditions in the wilderness? Buy our new woolly mammoth sweaters. Made for REAL MEN.
 
Renard said:
Why. Are they going to sell, I don't know, woolly mammoth sweaters for $25,000 a piece?
COLD this winter? Looking to get some prehistoric-grade heating for your expeditions in the wilderness? Buy our new woolly mammoth sweaters. Made for REAL MEN.
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Sounds like you hate capitalism.
 
Samjj said:
There have been perpetual news reports like this since the mid 90's offering the same promises.
I remember when Jurassic Park came out it became a fun pop-science topic to dream about...
Click to expand...

They cloned an extinct Ibex back in the early 2000’s.
 
I'm generally against genetic engineering but I also live in a state with a lot of snow and cold weather.
Could I get one to ride to work? It'd be pretty cool to show up to work on a wooly mammoth.
 
EL CORINTHIAN said:
Would there be any benefit to reviving these sorts of extinct animals?
Click to expand...
It might help in discovering new medical technology that can help humans. There is a big ethical question of making designer babies but having something like the regenerative abilities of a crocodile would be pretty nifty.
 
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LangfordBarrow said:
It might help in discovering new medical technology that can help humans. There is a big ethical question of manking designer babies but having something like the regenerative abilities of a crocodile would be pretty nifty.
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Half human half croc would be pretty cool too…
 
Samjj said:
There have been perpetual news reports like this since the mid 90's offering the same promises.
I remember when Jurassic Park came out it became a fun pop-science topic to dream about...
Click to expand...
There was a big advertising push for something like "Reviving the Mammoth" in the early 2000's. It made it seem this is exactly what they were doing but it turned out to be a run of the mill documentary on mammoths after they found a well preserved juvenile in Siberia or somewhere. It was disappointing to say the least after months of anticipation.
 
Feel like I’ve been seeing this for years and they keep pushing out the date. I’m skeptical it happens before 2030 but would be cool if they pull it off. 22 months carrying is crazy. I didn’t realize some animals have way longer rates.
 
Lead said:
Feel like I’ve been seeing this for years and they keep pushing out the date. I’m skeptical it happens before 2030 but would be cool if they pull it off. 22 months carrying is crazy. I didn’t realize some animals have way longer rates.
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There’s a salamander in the Alps that can carry its young for 2-3 years. The gestation period depends on the elevation of the animal.
 
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