The Russians have a thigh bone with in tact cells. Samples are on their way to Japan. The intention is to inject Mammoth cells into the sterile interior of the eggs of Indian Elephants. Using an Indian Elephant as a surrogate mother, the first cloned Tundra mammoths will be back with us within five years (is the target). 4000 years after prehistoric humans hunted these wonderful creatures to extinction, our technology can make amends.I am personally only concerned about whether it can be done, not if we should. I have no ethical or religious hang ups. To me it is the same as the ethical argument about anti aging treatments. I'll debate with you the rights and wrongs, but take the tablets anyway. It is our destiny to bring back the Mammoth. I have heard the argument that it's habitat is gone. Not so. Siberia can still support a small population. I have also heard that we don't know why they died out, so don't know if they can survive in this warmer world. I'm happy with the evidence of human intervention in their extinction. Personally I just want to see them in the flesh, and smile.
Let's dispel a couple of myths. The later species that we have cells from are Mammuthus Primigenius. They are smaller than the giants we always imagine. They are similar in size to Indian Elephants. Their hair is red-brown? Maybe, but maybe not. They may have had a range of hair colours the way humans do. Apparently we can wait and see. How cool is that?
If I understand cloning, no matter how many clone offspring are produced from the above mentioned thighbone, they will all be identical, including gender. Unless they come up with a frozen mate for the clones, same sex Mammoths is all we will get.
Had enough about Mammoths? I'll write about something else tomorrow, maybe. It's a brave new world.
