Ten Extinct Beasts That Could Walk The Earth Again

News Scientist ^ | 1/07/2009 | Staff Writers

[ex-Texan]

THE recipe for making any creature is written in its DNA. So last November, when geneticists published the near-complete DNA sequence of the long-extinct woolly mammoth, there was much speculation about whether we could bring this behemoth back to life.

Creating a living, breathing creature from a genome sequence that exists only in a computer's memory is not possible right now. But someone someday is sure to try it, predicts Stephan Schuster, a molecular biologist at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and a driving force behind the mammoth genome project.

So besides the mammoth, what other extinct beasts might we coax back to life?

Well, it is only going to be possible with creatures for which we can retrieve a complete genome sequence. Without one, there is no chance. And usually when a creature dies, the DNA in any flesh left untouched is soon destroyed as it is attacked by sunshine and bacteria.

There are, however, some circumstances in which DNA can be preserved. If your specimen froze to death in an icy wasteland such as Siberia, or snuffed it in a dark cave or a really dry region, for instance, then the probability of finding some intact stretches of DNA is much higher. * * *

Of course, bringing extinct creatures back to life raises a whole host of practical problems, such as where they will live, but let's not spoil the fun . . .

For Details About These Beasts Click Here

They inlcude the Sabre-Toothed Tiger and Neanderthal Man (Homo neanderthalensis) . . .

[Domestic Church]

“The Volkswagen Beetle-sized “colossal” armadillo, with its spiky, club-like tail, once rumbled across the South American countryside, and some might fancy seeing it do so again.”

This would work well for border patrol.

[Redcitizen]

January 20th, an extinct Beast will come back to life; the Clinton Administration.

[Knitebane]

Finally an armadillo that will be able to cross the road.

Pshaw.

Just contact the Lone Star Beer Company. I believe they know where the giant armadillo is.

[calex59]

I’d pay to see a live woolly mammoth

Why would you? They were just big hairy Elephants. Except for the fur coat and longer tusks they were basically the same. Now, if you are talking T-Rex I might pay to see one but it had better be contained very well indeed.

On the serious side, I think we should leave well enough alone, there is a reason these animals are extinct and it isn't because humans killed them off.

[wildbill]

Armadillo tastes like chicken. Really it does. Too bad they carry leprosy.

[wildbill]

we alrady have Neanderthals. Predominant characteristic is red hair. The Scots.

And we want your cattle and lassies.

[Elle Bee]

anyone have any Ronald Reagan DNA?

.

[wildbill]

I thought of the passenger pidgeon also. MMMMMM> pidgeon pie was a delicacy often mentioned in early American journals.

[Larry Lucido]

Replace “scientist” with “churchgoer” and the statement remains equally true.

Just saying.

[aruanan]

Even if the specimen is dried or frozen, depurination leads to a DNA sequence that is impossible to reconstruct with certainty. Trying to go from that reconstructed DNA to a living organism is pretty unlikely.

From this source: The production of authentic ancient DNA sequences is plagued by five major difficulties that we will discuss in this chapter. These are (i) polymerase errors resulting from experimental conditions and/or inhibitors of the fossil extract, (ii) modification of ancient DNA sequences carrying miscoding lesions, (iii) contamination by modern DNA (including products of previous PCR and cloning reactions), (iv) modification of contaminant DNA (i.e., DNA of more recent origin that has been modified by natural processes or decontamination procedures such as UV irradiation and/or treatment with bleach), (v) production by jumping PCR of chimeric PCR products between depurinated “fossil” DNA fragments, possibly of a different origin, and contaminating modern DNA molecules.

See also McMaster Ancient DNA Centre.

[Grizzled Bear]

A Detroit Lion who actually knows how to play football?

No. You can only recover DNA from creatures that once existed.