Comments on: So, what do you think about de-extinction?

By: Hannah W

Hannah W — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:26:31 +0000

Great article! I agree with Dunc. Although we may be able to re-create an extinct species eventually, can we also recreate the ways this species survives and exists? In addition, there are ethical concerns because of life and death. Once we can create life, we can also destroy current species. We do not know how these un-extincted animals will effect the ecosystem that have developed without them.

By: Eu

Eu — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:55:25 +0000

I think the cost to de-extinct each creature ought to be in balance with the “profit” since Debt.

By: robb

robb — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:04:35 +0000

i don’t think reintroduction of extinct species is wise. otherwise, hell, why not reintroduce small pox?

By: Another Week of GW News, March 10. 2013 – A Few Things Ill Considered

Another Week of GW News, March 10. 2013 – A Few Things Ill Considered — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:57:46 +0000

[…] 2013/03/06: GLaden: So, what do you think about de-extinction? […]

By: Mark P

Mark P — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 01:56:29 +0000

I understand the problems, but I wish we could bring back the marsupial wolf, or Tasmanian tiger. I keep remembering the grainy images of the last one in a zoo, and I feel guilty.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:11:35 +0000

Duncan, exactly, which is why I suggested species with existing analogs, and also keystone species because they contribute disproportionally to creating habitats.

Also, the environmental factor for long extinct species may be related to pathogens and immunity.

By: Dunc

Dunc — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:23:17 +0000

I think the really difficult question is not “can you re-create an extinct species?” (although that is a fairly difficult question), but rather “can you recreate the habitat and ecosystem it’s existence depended on?”

Hell, even for species not current extinct, that’s the real issue… Clone pandas all you like, but if the habitat isn’t there, what good is it?

By: John Moeller

John Moeller — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:24:26 +0000

Doug: Ha!

There’s plenty of Dems here too, we try to make people think about the beauty here before they start another strip-mining operation. 🙂

By: Doug Alder

Doug Alder — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:27:41 +0000

John Moeller I agree that releasing de-extictioned saber-toothed tigers in Western states would be unethical. Given the high proportion of Republicans in those states we would be committing the tigers back into extinction from food poisoning.

By: Bones

Bones — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 03:37:55 +0000

See http://www.quaggaproject.org/!