Wednesday, November 19, 2008

From the NYTimes

If the genome of an extinct species can be reconstructed, biologists can work out the exact DNA differences with the genome of its nearest living relative. There are now discussions of how to modify the DNA in an elephant’s egg so that generation by generation it would progressively resemble the DNA in a mammoth egg. The final stage egg could then be brought to term in an elephant mother, and mammoths might once again roam the Siberian steppes. The same would be technically possible with Neanderthals, whose full genome is expected to be recovered shortly, but ethically more challenging.
Ethically challenging? Hell - the earth's only been around since 4004-OCT-23 BCE at 9 AM... what's wrong with bringing back Neanderthals from their short respit - afterall - my car needs washing - and who's to say Lillith wasn't hot?

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