How would you like to see an armadillo the size of a Volkswagen (above)? A flightless bird that stands twice as high as an average man? Or a twenty-foot tall giant sloth that weights in at more than four tons? Believe it or not, these are all creatures that once roamed the earth. And now some think that it may be time for them to make a comeback.
What does it take to bring an extinct creature back to life? Well, you need . . .
1. Well-preserved DNA, (often found in the remains of Ice Age creatures that froze to death).
2. A modern species that could act as a surrogate and give birth to its ancient cousin.
3. A lot of money, some fancy machinery, and a mad scientist or two.
It's a complicated procedure, but not necessarily impossible. New Scientist magazine has identified the ten extinct beasts that might walk the Earth again. Take a look. The list might surprise you!
36 comments:
Dodo!! X3
that is so amazingly cool! I can think of some bad things too.. but Ill smother them for the sake of coolness. I wanna ride a wooly mammoth!
Any volunteers to be a Neanderthal mother?
Just imagine one of these creatures walking around.O.O
I think if an animal has gone extinct, it should be left that way.
I hope they are carefull and not stupid like the people in Jurassic Park.
I think I want a wooly rhino as a pet. It could trample idiots and I could ride it to school! Yay!
I'm not really sure that bringing back extinct animals is a good idea... they went extinct for a reason. New animals are supposed to come from evolution over TIME. Bringing one back out of nowhere might have negative affects. :/
Thats cool.. I'd love a pet dodo bird!
That is FASCINATING!
Have they never seen Jurrasic Park?!
*The Cat in the Closet*
I don't think it would have bad effects if scientists only created a few and kept the animals/Neanderthals in captivity. The whole concept of bringing back Neanderthals just boggles my mind. They are not really our ancestors, as we are not directly related to them, but...OH MY GOSH! I just have to say it out loud, Neanderthals! We could see them! Think how much science could learn! They would have to be kept in very humane conditions, though...I think if they do ressurrect Neandearthals, a good experiment would be to see if they can learn language.
those creatures died out because they couldn't adapt, to bring them back would be cruel. They are not fit for our climate, the air we breath, even the landscapes we have today, they are dangerous, strong and if they have gone extinct, they should stay that way...
Oh no, it's Jurassic Park!! I personally think that this is almost as bad as bringing someone back from the dead. It's not ethical, not logical, not reasonable in any way, shape or form. Just... No.
The thylacine and the dodo didn't go extinct because they couldn't adapt to the climate, they went extinct 'cause humans killed them, all. (in their defense, the humans of that time hadn't really figured out that exterminating a species is bad to do.)
I'd volunteer to be the neanderthal's mum.
I think stuff like this is humans trying to play God. It can't end well.
But I would kind of like to see a giant beaver.
That last comment was mine. I think I accidentally hit enter before typing my full name.
I don't think extinct animals should be brought back, and not just because of Jurassic Park.
I don't really think that's ethical either. Besides, they're probably not suited to our climate, like Anonymous said.
Hello Jurassic Park! This is NOT gonna end well.
ummm... cupcake doll, no offense but according to David L. Roberts and Andrew R. Solow who co-authored an article in the prominent science journal: Nature "Why did the dodo become extinct?"
"Although there are scattered reports of mass killings of dodos for provisioning of ships, archaeological investigations have hitherto found scant evidence of human predation on these birds. Some bones of at least two dodos were found in caves at Baie du Cap which were used as shelters by fugitive slaves and convicts in the 17th century, but due to their isolation in high, broken terrain, were not easily accessible to dodos naturally"
I doubt that two dodos can be considered a mass killing. though, the dodo was completely unafraid of humans as well, and if a large, plump and docile bird that couldn't fly or run away came walking up to you when you were hungry and you didn't have other sources of food, wouldn't you eat it? I also agree that human playing god/evolution is a very dangerous thing, many unforeseen consequences could occur!
Also, what possible scientific gain could be achieved by bring back the dodo, or any other extinct animal?
thank you Ananka for opening up a discussion for kids who have opinions!!!!
an 8th grader
AaaaaaaaaH!! A wooly mammoth is eating my petunias!
thanks hazel (this is climate change anonymous signed in!)
*The Cat in the Closet*
To Anonymous with the long post about Dodos:
Yes! Kirsten, thank you! This blog proves that we DO have opinions!
And also to the same person:
I only said that bringing back Neanderthals would have scientific gain. Not dodos or other animals, especially the ones who became extinct naturally. I have changed my mind: No animals that became extinct naturally should be brought back. Oh, heck with it...Neanderthals COULD be brought back, right? Please?
I agree with Dame Orchid and Rachel. They shouldn't be brought back, they became extinct for reasons, that we may not know of.
But still, that's really interesting! Imagine seeing those animals, how scary! History is very, very iteresting.
*blush* that'll teach me to post before checking the facts!
But my opinion-- I'd like to see all kinds of cloned animals walking around! It would be the future happening, like science fiction. And the Jurassic Park stuff would happen and people would get eaten but that's what it takes to get to the future.
...er, that's my feeling anyway.
I don't think I'd fancy having any megafauna in my backyard.
And anyways, curiosity killed the cat. Us modern day humans wouldn't have enough knowledge on what to give it to eat and etc...The anumals might go beserk and wham! It's on the loose and kills a few hundred in its savage quest to find freedom.
Like many of the other comments here on this comments page, I don't think this will be a good idea.
hey, heads up "rachel" evolution DOES NOT EXIST. bringing these animals back will be gods will.
This probably is playing God...plus the climate issue. But it would still be a little cool to see them. But still, Jurassic Park! It is possible to go TOO far with science. Has anyone read "A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter M. Miller, Jr.? There's an EXCELLENT example of too much science in there. Warning: It is VERY, VERY, VERY CREEPY.
ummm... anonymous who is bashing Rachel. Tolerence is the key! While you may or may not believe in evolution that does not give you the right to point blank claim that a legitimate theory does not exist because you do not believe in it. I am not trying to bash your beliefs, but I would ask you to please do the same.
By the way cupcakedoll, I hope that the future does not involve me being eaten by some large cloned reptile or other such animal, but if that is your theory or ideal future, I hope you have fun with it!
to "the cat in the closet"
As scientific research and ability refines, reforms, and improves, It will probably become possible to bring back the Neanderthals. however, In my mind at least, it would be unethical because we would be bring back animals that could not adapt, we would be introducing them to diseases and climates that would be unsuitable and indeed hazardous to them.
Also, they would almost certainly be unable to comprehend our lifestyle. their brains, while more advanced than Homo Sapiens Sapiens (humans) many thousands of years ago, would be akin to that of a human with a crippling mental handicap today, there would be no real gain for science (I believe). While you may believe that it would be 'cool" to bring them back, It would in the end, be pointless and cruel, you may disagree, but think about what it would be like if in 30,000 years from now, you were cloned and studied by our evolutionary descendants, would it be really be fun, or cool?
again to Kirsten Miller... THANKS!!!! your blog ROCKS MY SOCKS!!!!!
-me
i just hope it doesn't take a whole century, though it probably will
i just hope it doesn't take a whole century, though it probably will
even though evolution changes things over time, mankind killed off a few species
wow!
HEY! Do not get into that $#!% here, all right? I get enough f it at school. My science teacher is teaming up with the English teacher, I think, because we're debating Evolution vs. Theology.
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