Japanese to ressurect extinct Wooly Mammoth

Ashimar · #1 01-18-2011, 01:20 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110117...20110117104445

TOKYO (AFP) – Japanese researchers will launch a project this year to resurrect the long-extinct mammoth by using cloning technology to bring the ancient pachyderm back to life in around five years time.

The researchers will try to revive the species by obtaining tissue this summer from the carcass of a mammoth preserved in a Russian research laboratory, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

"Preparations to realise this goal have been made," Akira Iritani, leader of the team and a professor emeritus of Kyoto University, told the mass-circulation daily.

Under the plan, the nuclei of mammoth cells will be inserted into an elephant's egg cell from which the nuclei have been removed, to create an embryo containing mammoth genes, the report said.

The embryo will then be inserted into an elephant's uterus in the hope that the animal will eventually give birth to a baby mammoth.

The elephant is the closest modern relative of the mammoth, a huge woolly mammal believed to have died out with the last Ice Age.

Glaani · #2 01-19-2011, 09:25 AM

"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Great article, I can't wait to see what they are able to do!

Madigan · #3 01-19-2011, 09:31 AM

Awesome quote from Jurassic Park. I actually look forward to this. I see it as progress while others see it as a perversion of nature and natural selection and have seen many a heated conversation result from topics such as this.

Harrison · #4 01-19-2011, 09:35 AM

They died out for a reason. We're fucking up big if we start pulling this shit off.

Glaani · #5 01-19-2011, 10:01 AM

"Oh, yeah. Oooh, ahhh, that's how it always starts. Then later there's running and screaming. "

(Last Jurassic Park quote, I swear. I just can't help myself. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.] )

VictoryARC · #6 01-19-2011, 10:04 AM

Cloning a mammoth to study and releasing a herd into the environment are 2 different things.

Chanus · #7 01-19-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VictoryARC [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Cloning a mammoth to study and releasing a herd into the environment are 2 different things.

Yeah, one's the intent and the other is the end result after horrible accidents!

Uthgaard · #8 01-19-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harrison [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

They died out for a reason. We're fucking up big if we start pulling this shit off.

People said the same thing about a Classic Everquest server.

Seaweedpimp · #9 01-19-2011, 10:24 AM

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Ashimar · #10 01-19-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harrison [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

They died out for a reason. We're fucking up big if we start pulling this shit off.

Early humans (or barbarians, lol) hunted them to extinction. It was our fault, and maybe the Japanese feel obligated to correct the mistake.