NationStates Jolt Archive


Clones to bring back the extinct?

Patra Caesar
16-01-2005, 03:03
I was listening to the radio and they were doing a segment on future technologies and when the topic of cloning came up (I think human clones are illegal here, so what happens if someone breaks the law? Do they kill this human clone?) and the presenter asked would it be possible to clone a Tasmanian Tiger? The boffin yammered on for a while with some answer that seemed to be neither 'yes,' or 'no.' So I thought I'd ask you guys for your opinion, should we (if we can) clone animals like this whom we as a species have made extinct?

Obviously we cannot clone a Dodo (all we have are a few amateur pictures and one burnt head, all the DNA in which is probably too corrupted, we don't even know what it looks like exactly, no idea what it ate, how it breeds ect), but what about something like the Tasmanian Tiger?

I should point out the Tassie Tiger isn't actually a tiger, it's a marsupial. Imagine a skinny Kangaroo that runs on all fours and eats meat, sorta like a dog.

So yes, we should replace what we have wiped out for the sake of future generations, or is this an abominable idea?

Remember this is cloning animals, not people (although some people act like animals at times).
Nihilistic Beginners
16-01-2005, 03:05
Thank god for clonig , we have the auroch again
Kusarii
16-01-2005, 03:06
Sure I'm all for that.

Would there be problems with genetic diversity with animals that are severely endangered though?
Patra Caesar
16-01-2005, 03:12
Sure I'm all for that.

Would there be problems with genetic diversity with animals that are severely endangered though?

From what I understand yes, actually modern cloning techniques would even accentuate it.
Superpower07
16-01-2005, 03:15
Before we start cloning willy-nilly, I want to see how it would impact the environment . . .

And as Kusarii said (or asked), there'd be problems w/not enough genetic diversity
Kusarii
16-01-2005, 03:16
Actually, due to the poll which wasn't there when I first posted I'd like to say I choose option the last.

Can I please have an option that includes cloning ME after death, a clone army and cloning endangered and extinct animals (where appropriate)?