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Question: Cloning the mammoth!?
Would this be a good thing!? I realize this would take quite a long time, but if it were to be done, what would/could we do with them!. Could we breed enough to reintroduce them to Siberia!? Would they be a good source of food!? Would it be worth the investment!?

Is this a leap for science or an abuse!?

This is purely a hypothetical question!. I am interested in anyone else's thoughts on the whole "clone" issue!. It has seemed to fell off the burner so to speak!.

Personally, I say go for it!. I would also like to see the cloning of an Egyptian Pharaoh, or any other ancient human with DNA that could be used!.

Your thoughts!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
They are kicking this one around right now!. What effect would a mammoth have on modern society!? What effect would modern society have on the mammoth!? Should we clone one before we know about its habitat and food sources!? PETA is dead set against it!. Biologist want to go forward with it!. Ecologists are asking "What if a plant they require no longer exists!?" I take a wait and see attitude!.

As for the pharaoh, Why!? We know a whole lot about them now and are learning more everyday!. A clone itself would contribute nothing new!. Physically, they are no different than us!. Personality is a culture based construction!. The Pharonic system is dead and buried!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

For the Egyptian Pharaoh thing, I'd probably not do that because of certain ethical problems that would be caused by that and even there weren't any other problems; other than having the chance to look at what that Pharaoh would look like, not much else would be wanted from the Pharaoh because cloning only replicates the genetic information of the specimen and not memories!. Since the Pharaoh is then to be kept in a environment different from being a actual Egyptian Pharaoh, the guy will be different from what a actual Egyptian Pharaoh would do, act, and think based on what influenced the Pharaoh!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think it would be great for tourism to have a 'mammoth zoo'!. If we could recreate their environment, it would be easy to reintroduce the species into the world and make money, so everybody wins!.

Considering current science, we are actually very close to mapping the mammoth genome!. Once we have done that, all we need to do is put the right genes in the right places!. We don't even need any actual mammoth DNA!. We can start with elephants and mutate them until we get the intended result!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think they probably should be cloned, because humans were the reason for their demise!. I also think wooly rhinos should be cloned!. Even so, it would be important to ensure there was a viable ecosystem to put them in before it was done!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

not a good idea!. they are gone for a reason!. its unnatural!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Cloning the mammoth would help us to learn more about them!. It is worth a try!. I don't think I want to eat anything woolly!. :)

I'm not sure if a human cloned from ancient DNA would have any immunity to today's diseases!. If they did this, the clone would have to live in a sterile controlled environment!. Possibly for it's entire life!. Of course, they may be able to find someone to nurse the infant!. Then it might be able to survive!. It would be interesting!. Imagine growing up knowing that in another life you were an Egyptian Pharaoh!.Www@QuestionHome@Com