ss_blog_claim=a3126b4c7ff677034e00c0794083d4e7

Scientists Successfully Clone Mammoth

This could very well be the next headline in all of the scientific journals.  Recently a Japanese team of scientists at the Riken Center for Development Biology successfully cloned a mouse with the DNA that was acquired from a mouse that had been dead and frozen for 16 years.

This paves the road for cloning other animals that have been extinct, but found in the frozen permafrost in Siberia.  The same Japanese team of scientists have also cloned a embryo from freeze dried cells, the next project to work on for them is attempting to clone the now-extinct Japanese wolf from a stuffed specimen.

For a coincidence this all happened the same day as the author of  ”Jurassic Park”, Michael Crichton lost his battle with cancer.  Cells from dead bodies in the past have been useless as normally they are ruined in the freezing process. But Wakayama’s team discovered a way to extract a nucleus intact from a frozen cell by grinding cell tissues into multiple pieces.

The cloned mouse went on to reproduce with a female mouse successfully.  To revive a mammoth, researchers would need to find a way to implant a cell nucleus of a mammoth into the egg of an elephant and then implant the embryo into an elephant’s uterus, Wakayama said.  The wooly mammoth stood 12-feet tall, and weighed up to seven tons and had a shaggy dark brown coat that hung from its belly, with large tusks.

DNA was extracted from a well-preserved 27,000-year-old specimen found in the Siberian permafrost. So far, about 30 million “letters” of the genetic code have been read, albeit in small pieces, representing around one percent of the entire code.

So now a question of morality comes to mind.  The extinct animals became extinct for a reason, is it right to bring species that became extinct naturally back into existence?  I have no disagreements with it, but as far as eating cloned animals such as cows.  I am against that.  I would like to know the thoughts of some of the readers of Charles Hamel.com on this subject.  

Until next time take care all!

 

P.S. Sorry about the linkbait! >:->

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.

Comments
Gravatar

Hey Charlie
Very thought provoking article.
I believe that the mammoths became extinct because of a drastic climate change that dried up their source of food.
They were unable to travel far enoungh to find a new source of food before they all got too weak and starved to death. What a pity.
I would like to see them cloned and made viable again, and put the first cloned copy in the Asahiyama Zoo right here in Asahikawa!!!
Can you imagine what a boost to tourism that would be???
AWESOME!
Also, I like your new favicon. It is much easier to see than the old one. And also thanks for putting a permanent link to my new web site on your top page.
See you again soon.
Norman D.
http://www.everythingjapan.net

Gravatar

Thanks for the great comment Norman, and you are welcome for the link.

As far as a mammoth here at the Asahiyama Zoo, just think what would happen. Tourism would go through the roof. More traffic, people would capitalize on the tourism by moving here and setting up shop. Property prices would go up, and it would get more crowded.

Ehhhhh second thoughts lets put the mammoth at another zoo… :)

Glad you like the new favicon, I have been tweaking the site a bit, and have some more ideas yet to implement.

Take Care and Hope to see you soon.

P.S. Got a Snowboard Bag…. helmet next and I am done! Just need more snow…. or we could always hike up Asahidake’s trail near the ropeway and come down a little, I am sure we could find some easy spots where I could practice. But I need some snowshoes!

Gravatar

Hi! First time on your blog and I like this article.
I wonder if the Mammoth is successfully born, will it be able to attempt to the current warm temperatures on earth? Or would we see genetic evolution… that is the Mammoth and subsequent Mammoths that live on in the present time, shed their fur coats and live like the elephants?
However, isn’t it a lot of space required to house this humongous furry creature?
I wonder….

Gravatar

I have no problem with reviving the extinct animals, it would add much to human history…

Gravatar

Great comments on this story.

Sherx you raise an interesting question.. Would the cloned version evolve into a regular large elephant eventually, proving that it was meant for the mammoths to go extinct or evolve.

blackzero85 I agree, I think that if we have the ability to bring back animals, then we should… Some of the creatures that are in danger add to the life cycle of things. It could be beneficial to us and the earth to bring some species back.

Gravatar

Michael Crichton certainly left a thought-provoking legacy. Everyone’s time comes to leave this world. You can be animal, vegetable, mineral or, something else. Lessons are learned at your pace. You have infinite opportunities to share your own lessons with others. Some people d this through stories. You are only limited by your own sense of imagination.

Gravatar

Liara

You are the queen of thought provoking. I love it when you leave comments, because it makes me approach the subject from a different angle of thinking.

Glad to have you as a friend, and I don’t know what I did to deserve you.

Gravatar

The day that a mammoth comes back alive, is when I know that scientist are crazy enough to bring back dinosaurs and think they can control them. Tasers won’t work on those big guys!

Gravatar

[...] with the DNA that was acquired from a mouse that had been dead and frozen for 16 years." Scientists Successfully Clone a Mammoth | Charles Hamel.com "This paves the road for cloning other animals that have been extinct, but found in the [...]

Gravatar

[...] bookmarks tagged mammoth Scientists Successfully Clone a Mammoth | Charles … saved by 2 others     nicbh bookmarked on 11/27/08 | [...]

Gravatar

No… What happened was, they survived the Ice Age. And our ancesetors killed them.

They’re finding remains of Mamoths with spears/arrow heads all over North America, and I’m sure they’re finding the same thing in Europe.

Did you guys know about the Moas that existed in New Zealand until all the immigrants wiped them out?

Yeah… Humans are wonderful! Blame everything on climates, when we’re always killing animals for no reason. We’ve grown intelligent enough to not have to feast/prey on lessser intelligent creatures. It’s wrong - and you guys wonder why aliens never show up around here…

Gravatar

Thanks for the great comment Kegan, It is really nice to have a intelligent comment that creates a dialogue instead of the normal spam.

Take Care

Leave a comment

(required)

(required)