Scientists Close to Reviving Wooly Mammoths From Extinction

Filed in National by on December 5, 2011

Thousands of years ago, Wooly mammoths were pretty much wiped off the face of the Earth from a likely combination of climate change and over-hunting from humans. But now, about 450 generations after our ancestors armed themselves with sharpened sticks to kill mammoths, scientists are now working to revive them — and they’re actually incredibly close to doing it. Japanese and Russian researchers are suggesting that in just five short years the currently extinct Wooly mammoth may roam again thanks to advancements in cloning science, offering a bit of hope for countless other species that have already perished at the hands of humans.

Next up, Science brings back Truman Democrats.

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Comments (9)

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  1. puck says:

    I like what they did with Newt.

  2. Dana Garrett says:

    Yes, but *should* they do it? Isn’t there overall value in extinctions for some species?

  3. Mike Matthews says:

    I’m reminded of one Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park. They had their chance and for whatever reason nature selected them to go. Dana is right; I’m very leery of this stuff.

  4. admadm says:

    “pretty much”?

    You keep using that term.

    I don’t think it means what you think it means

    adm

  5. Geezer says:

    “for whatever reason nature selected them to go.”

    Scientists are pretty sure they were hunted to extinction by primitive humans.

  6. reis says:

    Plus, I don’t think that mammoths will invade our ecosystem like nutria or kudzu.

    “Hey Bob, are you putting out traps to get rid of the mammoth infestation?”

  7. Geezer says:

    Frankly, I’d like to see the return of the giant ground sloth. It might provide companionship for Rush Limbaugh.

  8. Mike Matthews says:

    “Scientists are pretty sure they were hunted to extinction by primitive humans.”

    Yes. I was quoting Ian Malcolm from JP. That was his line in reference to the cloning of dinosaurs. Nature gave them their chance and for whatever reason they were selected to be removed from earth.

  9. Dana Garrett says:

    Somehow I think ancient humans hunting a species into extinction is an act of nature. Still, it would be cool to see one. The one I always wished they could bring back is the passenger pigeon. It also was hunted into extinction but by humans who had a more lively sense of the consequences of their actions.