Scientists hope to clone extinct species

[almaty 19]

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Japanese scientists have produced clones of mice that have been dead and frozen for 16 years -- a feat that could lead researchers to one day resurrect long-extinct species, such as the mammoth.

Dolly was cloned using cells from live animals. Now scientists believe they can resurrect extinct species.

Until now, scientists have only been able to produce clones using cells from live animals. This is how researchers created Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult animal.

Researchers had thought that frozen cells were unusable because ice crystals would have damaged the DNA. That belief would rule out the possibility of resurrecting extinct animals from their frozen remains.

But the latest research -- published in the journal, Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences -- shows that scientists may have overcome the obstacle.

Researchers at the Riken Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan, used cells from mice that had been frozen for 16 years at -20 Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit).

They extracted the nucleus and injected it into eggs whose DNA had been removed. Several steps later, the scientists were able to clone the mice.

"This is the first time a mammal has been cloned from a sample stored at conditions reasonably close to what might be expected in permafrost," Teruhiko Wakayama, who led the study, said in a statement.

"(It) gives some hope for those who might seek to clone extinct species from frozen carcasses

[Nessa 23]

they're extinct for a reason. they shouldn't mess with nature. we're all gonna die someday because of it.

[almaty 19]

wow, we could write a movie script based on cloning extinct animals...or dinos

[Nessa 23]

yes, where in the end people regret it because they're all being exterminated by the evil extinct animal clones

[aidan80 9]

Mammoth Burger anyone?

[alienlovechild 75]

they're extinct for a reason. they shouldn't mess with nature. we're all gonna die someday because of it.

We should rid ourselves of modern medicine and any form of disaster relief since they, too, interfere with nature's plan.

Other counties seem a lot less worried about playing around with genetics then again it wasn't long ago most people were freaked out by evil computers talking over the world.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

wow, we could write a movie script based on cloning extinct animals...or dinos

You're familiar with (novel and film versions of) Jurassic Park by the late Michael Crichton? Edited November 6, 2008 by CherryXS

[Ban Hammer 13,344]

can they clone ronald reagan by 2012?

[almaty 19]

wow, we could write a movie script based on cloning extinct animals...or dinos

You're familiar with (novel and film versions of) Jurassic Park by the late Michael Crichton?

yes, brother sriniv..i wrote my response to the book and movie...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

can they clone ronald reagan by 2012?

Charles, have you seen Boys From Brazil or Anna of Infinite Power?

Even if they multiply-cloned Ronnie today, it would be 2044 before these could run for election--and if they individualate?

[almaty 19]

boys of brazil was a great film with gregory peck

[alienlovechild 75]

individualate?

I'm not familiar with that term or the idea of proofreading my own posts either.

[SpiritAlight 1]

What we need are more mammoths.

[almaty 19]

and wooly ones, at that

[KiKi 0]

they're extinct for a reason. they shouldn't mess with nature. we're all gonna die someday because of it.

Yes but what about cloning animals that became extinct due to man??

I think it's pretty cool.

Bring back the Dodo bird...lol