De-Extinction
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What are the risks and benefits of De-extinction? |
Background: De-extinction is when a extinct animal is brought back to life. De-extinction has not been successful yet but it is possible. According to Joel Satore of CBS, "...starting with DNA from preserved museum specimens, the passenger pigeon's genetic code will eventually be spliced into the living cells of a close cousin, the band-tailed pigeon with the hope of creating something that looks, sounds and perhaps even acts like the real thing. they're calling the process De-extinction" (1). According to Scientific American, "Is De-extinction a real possibility ? The answer is yes. On January 6,2000, a falling tree killed the last bucardo, a wild iberian ibex which a is a goat like animal. Her name was Celia. On July 30, 2003 Celia's clone was born. Although she lived for a scant seven minutes due to lung defects Celia's clone proved that not only is De-extinction real it has already happened" (1). We may have the technology for successful de-extinction but will it help or hurt our environment.
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Pros and Cons:
Pros:
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Cons:
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Thesis Statement: Although some people believe that the efforts of de-extinction should continue, the risks to the environment and current living species far outweigh the benefits.