Sunday, July 26
#30 - animals (2 of 2)
You have ascended to a position in which you are a representative on a small but powerful panel that monitors and oversees all wildlife, worldwide. Soon after this panel has formed, you are presented with an interesting opportunity.
The scientific community, coming off a series of breakthroughs in the field of genetics, has informed your group that the ability now exists to bring a species back from extinction. Woolly mammoths, dinosaurs, the dodo, all of these are real possibilities.
The catch here is that the process would require the DNA of an existing species, and the endeavor would consequently result in the extinction of that species. It would, in effect, be a species for species trade. Also, the species chosen to supply the substitute DNA must come from the same class of animal (Mammalia, Reptilia, etc) as the extinct, candidate species.
Do you elect to bring back an extinct animal? If so, which one?
For the purposes of the question, please answer as if the events in post #29 had never occurred. There is no epidemic and there is no need for a species to be eliminated if you elect not to attempt the "un-extinction"..
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4 comments:
I think having one species go extinct for the benefit of reintroducing another species is irresponsible.
This related article is interesting:
http://www.livescience.com/animals/090723-clone-extinct-animals.html
We recreate these extinct animals, and then what? The species went extinct for a reason, and it is unlikely that all of the problems that caused their extinction are fixed. Who's to say that they will thrive in their second chance on earth?
I can't think of any animal I'd really be pressed to bring back, however, if this is far enough into the future that polar bears are gone, I would bring them back. Not sure at whose expense, though.
I was devastated when I discovered your stipulation that the trade be within the same class. I want to trade those damn mosquitoes.
Yes, it would be irresponsible, and the extinct animals would maybe not thrive in the earth's current climate conditions, but isn't the idea of the woolly mammoth tempting?
It is to me.
It's possible though that the extinct-ness is part of the allure.
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