January 12, 2006

Decoding of Mammoth Genome Might Lead to Resurrection

What do the scientists propose to do with resurrected woolly mammoths? Put saddles on them and let little kids ride them at zoos? It's a cool concept, but I don't get it. Are they thinking this through carefully? I hope there is proper consideration of the moral and ethical considerations of this kind of thing.
Scientists have mapped part of the genome of the woolly mammoth, a huge mammal that's been extinct for about 10,000 years. The breakthrough could lead to recreating the creatures.

The woolly mammoth stood 12-feet tall and weighed seven tons. It had a shaggy, dark brown coat, a big head, small ears, small tail, and long, curved tusks. Females were slightly smaller. Both sexes had a hump at the top of their backs, which were actually mounds of hair and fat.

No comments: