Should the woolly mammoth be cloned?

OvalteenieOvalteenie Posts: 24,169
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Now that they have sequenced the complete genome of the woolly mammoth, does this mean in theory they can recreate it using cloning techniques and an elephant surrogate? Do you think it should be done? :confused:

De-extinction of the woolly mammoth a step closer
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  • BerBer Posts: 24,562
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    It shouldn't be done just for the sake of it, that would be cruel to the mammoth and of no real benefit beyond curiosity value. The article states that a colony could be created and it could have ecological benefits to parts of Siberia, but it still seems a bit risky. I'm not saying it shouldn't be done for those reasons, but proper research needs to be carried out on the effects of releasing what would now be an 'alien species' into the wild.
  • CLL DodgeCLL Dodge Posts: 115,630
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    Would they do it for a Neanderthal?
  • benjaminibenjamini Posts: 32,066
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    We cannot safeguard the endangered species we still have. There is not a single good reason to do so. So IMO no.
  • James FrederickJames Frederick Posts: 53,184
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    benjamini wrote: »
    We cannot safeguard the endangered species we still have. There is not a single good reason to do so. So IMO no.

    Hopefully they can use this to boost their numbers to.
  • ArcanaArcana Posts: 37,521
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    Jurassic Park didn't end well.
  • CravenHavenCravenHaven Posts: 13,953
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    Did they even sort out longevity for cloned sheep yet? Not sure the world needs a mammoth with an OAP bus pass.
  • edward_mckenzieedward_mckenzie Posts: 415
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    tyrannosaurus first.
  • OvalteenieOvalteenie Posts: 24,169
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    CLL Dodge wrote: »
    Would they do it for a Neanderthal?

    That would be fascinating. But we'd need to find a well preserved Neanderthal mummy first to sequence the DNA which I assume is not exactly the same as Homo sapiens.

    Anyway I believe that Neanderthals and HS had sex and interbred, and that some of us today might have Neanderthal ancestry without knowing it
  • Phoenix LazarusPhoenix Lazarus Posts: 17,305
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    tyrannosaurus first.

    Don't want Bolan back. I want our roads safe for drivers.
  • dee123dee123 Posts: 46,195
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    Arcana wrote: »
    Jurassic Park didn't end well.

    Wooly Mammoths weren't carnivores.
  • BerBer Posts: 24,562
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    dee123 wrote: »
    Wooly Mammoths weren't carnivores.

    Neither are rabbits or grey squirrels, but they caused a lot of problems when introduced into new environments.
  • Ethel_FredEthel_Fred Posts: 34,127
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    dee123 wrote: »
    Wooly Mammoths weren't carnivores.
    Elephants kill around 500 people a year, hippos around 3000 and they aren't carnivores
  • MC_SatanMC_Satan Posts: 26,512
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    What would be the point? Because we can?
  • CravenHavenCravenHaven Posts: 13,953
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    Ethel_Fred wrote: »
    Elephants kill around 500 people a year, hippos around 3000 and they aren't carnivores
    Exactly! We could have Woolly Mammoth v Hippo contests. Let the games commence
    :kitty:
  • BastardBeaverBastardBeaver Posts: 11,903
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    Arcana wrote: »
    Jurassic Park didn't end well.

    But it did make about $1bn grosse profit, so swings and roundabouts :D
  • Raquelos.Raquelos. Posts: 7,734
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    Elephants are cute, fluffy elephants would surely be cuter!! Now if they could just make them about the size of a cat as well I would totally have one as a pet.
  • dee123dee123 Posts: 46,195
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    Ber wrote: »
    Neither are rabbits or grey squirrels, but they caused a lot of problems when introduced into new environments.
    Ethel_Fred wrote: »
    Elephants kill around 500 people a year, hippos around 3000 and they aren't carnivores

    If there was only a handful of them in cages like in Jurassic Park (the comment i responded to) neither of these things would occur.
  • valkayvalkay Posts: 15,726
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    Ovalteenie wrote: »
    Anyway I believe that Neanderthals and HS had sex and interbred, and that some of us today might have Neanderthal ancestry without knowing it

    Definitely, you can see them walking around.
  • BerBer Posts: 24,562
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    dee123 wrote: »
    If there was only a handful of them in cages like in Jurassic Park (the comment i responded to) neither of these things would occur.

    If the dinosaurs had stayed in their cages then Jurassic Park would have ended differently ;-)
  • DangermooseDangermoose Posts: 67,135
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    The idea of cloning does make me feel a little uneasy. I'm not entirely sure I agree with anything which goes against nature. There's a reason they died out. Perhaps best to let sleeping dogs .... or in this case, mammoths, die.
    What would be the reason to bring them back? For the fame and glory?
    It's interference a little too far imo.
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    Arcana wrote: »
    Jurassic Park didn't end well.

    Yeah, but that was all Phil's fault.
  • UKMikeyUKMikey Posts: 28,728
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    Depends, do they taste good?

    Only kidding but you'd need a lot of elephant eggs to make this viable.

    https://theconversation.com/produce-mammoth-stem-cells-says-creator-of-dolly-the-sheep-16335
  • CrimsonmonCrimsonmon Posts: 1,116
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    Man moth?
  • valkayvalkay Posts: 15,726
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    Crimsonmon wrote: »
    Man moth?

    Wasn't he in the X Files.?
  • Keiō LineKeiō Line Posts: 12,979
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    Yes. Give it a go.
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