MadSci Network: Molecular Biology
Query:

Re: Is it possible to clone recently extinct species which have been preserved?

Date: Thu Mar 11 22:59:56 1999
Posted By: Joshua McElwee, Grad student, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington-Seattle
Area of science: Molecular Biology
ID: 920788592.Mb
Message:

  Gail,

  You're question is an interesting one, and brings to mind great big 
parks full of dinosaurs, with guided tours, and escaped velociraptors, 
and....wait, that was a movie!  But seriously, what you propose to do 
would, in theory, be along the same lines as the methods that have been 
employed in the recent clonings that you gave as examples.  Currently, as 
far as i know, our technical abilities are no where near a level which 
would allow for the recreation of extinct species via this method.  
Clonings carried out recently are done via nuclear transplantation, using 
intact nuclei.  These nuclei contain all of the correct regulatory 
mechanisms, transcriptional machinery, and other assorted goodies required 
for division and replication.  Extinct and preserved species will not have 
functioning nuclei, so the only conceivable way to do what you suggest 
would be by transplantation of DNA directly; certainly a massive technical 
feat.  Perhaps, someday, when technology has advanced it will be possible, 
but don't count on taking a tour of jurassic park anytime in our lifetimes.

-Josh McElwee, Dinosaur hunter.


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