-53 Why on earth would we want to clone a woolly mammoth? Because we can? Because they would be a great attraction at a zoo? Those are not good answers. These creatures had their chance, and they went extinct. Screw 'em, amirite?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

To learn more about them and the time period that they lived in? I think that's bascially why we study history as well as evolutionary science.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Don't you know? EVOLUTION DOESN'T EXIST LOLZZZZ!

by Anonymous 11 years ago

CREATIONISM HURR DURR. The earth is only 10,000 years old you guys!

by Anonymous 11 years ago

How would a mammoth in our century teach us about the century it lived in?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Scientists would conduct tests on the body (carbon dating, etc.) and would discover much about the time period when these creatures roamed the Earth. We would find out more about what caused its extinction and the state of the Earth at the time. I personally think it's amazing to see what technology can do. I think there was a National Geographic article on this a few years back. I'll try to find a link. I guess I disagree with this post because it seems to imply that we can't benefit by finding out more about these creatures, and I strongly disagree. Perhaps cloning one wouldn't necessarily be as beneficial, but it would be interesting none the less to see if we can. Oooh, found it. goo http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/05/mammoths/mueller-text

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Bringing back a mammoth would make it a modern animal that would only be familiar with the environment in which it grew up in. Carbon dating wouldn't tell us anything. Of course maybe there would be some instincts to behave a certain way, but a mammoth brought to life today would behave much differently than a mammoth that roamed the Earth centuries and centuries ago. It makes sense why you disagree with the post though. Of course there are ways we could benefit, but I just feel as though it's screwing around with nature a little too much. I don't have any desire to force anything back to life that is already dead. But then again, humans are part of a nature and so is everything we do. So maybe nature wants them back. Maybe this is nature's way of destroying humans once and for all--by giving us motivation to bring back potentially dangerous species from the past to eventually take over. I dunno...

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Wouldn't a clone not have any memories of the environment its ancestors lived in and would therefore adapt better to life now? (We're not trying to bring back a previously living animal, we're just trying to create a new identical copy) That's interesting to think about though. Perhaps the destruction of humanity will come about from our ego and feelings of superiority over nature.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Yeah, but being adapted to our time period wouldn't tell us anything about the time period of its ancestors.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Hmm, you're right, it wouldn't, but we'd still learn much about the creatures themselves and perhaps the conditions of the Earth at the time of their death by examining the animal. I just find that part fascinating in itself.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

To make really warm coats.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

No. That makes sense! Can you imagine how much you could get for a pair of wholly mammoth uggs?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

or a lovey and snug wholly mammoth penis warmer!

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Proabably a little too hairy for me.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Shaver

by Anonymous 11 years ago

So we can learn more about them. Most of science doesn't have a "point" until we need it later.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I agree, OP. Saving endangered species and bringing back extinct species is just one more arrogant attempt of humans to control nature. It's interfering with nature. Over 90% of the species that have ever lived on this planet are gone. We didn't kill them all. They just disappeared. That's what nature does. 25 species disappear each day regardless of human behavior. It would be best if humanity let them go gracefully. Leave nature alone. I mean, if you believe we're responsible for wiping out thousands of species, what makes you think bringing them back would be any better?

by Anonymous 11 years ago