They had their chance and lost. Chaos, I tell you. Chaos.
Posted on 01/09/2009 10:20:15 AM PST by 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) . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
Does this mean we can do away with the Endangered Species Act?
Giant beaver? Wouldn’t Oprah qualify?
Extinct: ~11,000 years ago
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.
Finally an armadillo that will be able to cross the road.
If theyr’e going to revive species, bring back the Carolina Parakeet. Hunted to extinction by the 1930’s for its feathers, used in women’s hats. It was the only native North American species of parrot, with natural habitat ranging from southern Virginia down to Florida, and west into Alabama and Mississippi.
http://www.avianweb.com/carolinaconures.html
My largest caliber is a .340 Weatherby Magnum.
If I ever had the chance to shoot one of those my CNC lathe would be turning some nice, hard bronze slugs for it again.
Sabre-toothed tiger (Smilodon fatalis)
Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis)
Short-faced bear (Arctodus simus)
Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
Glyptodon (Doedicurus clavicaudatus)
Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis)
Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
Giant ground sloth (Megatherium americanum)
Moa (Dinornis robustus)
Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus)
Giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis)
Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) [almost extinct, they say]
Typical. 11 or 12 beasties in the 10 beast list...
Nah, you’re thinking of Whoppie Goldberg, if Ted Danson has any credibility at all.
Yes I have seen it, but it is just a movie...
what other extinct beasts might we coax back to life?
Conservative Republicanus but I suppose there will be a law
against that by then.
Oh, and my favorite quote....
“Sure, first there’s the Ooooos and Ahhhhhs, then there’s
the running and the screaming.”
LOL yes, we would see CARS upside down in the road instead!
That’s a good excuse for a new tag line...
“I’m just hoping one is a Conservative Legislator!!”
I’d be satisfied with one who had a brain bigger than an acorn!
They had their chance and lost. Chaos, I tell you. Chaos.
I want them to bring back wooly mammoths, giant sloths, etcetera. How cool would that be? Imagine the hunting!
Science is just moving too damn slow! They need to crank up this sort of science. Genetic engineering in particular. I want corn on the cob as long as my arm. I want a herd of miniature cows for my back yard. Just think, you could grill a whole side of mini-beef! I want a genetic combination of coffee and tobacco.
Someday, they will figure out how to make a living couch. It will be soft, warm and furry and able to survive on nothing more than butt sweat and the crumbs that fall between the cushions.
While no one is talking seriously of bringing back Neanderthals (as per the linked article), I would love to see any and all of the other species mentioned brought back. More power to them!
Might find some repo houses in Tarzana.
Get'em cheap, too!
Isn’t this a lot like bailing out failed companies?
I mean, they didn’t make it the first time they were here.
(It's been more than two years now and nothing from the Arkansas swamps. It's almost certainly extinct.)
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