The Infinite Monkey Cage Is Extinction the End?
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Dec 18, 2024 
Join geneticist Adam Rutherford, known for his work on human history, paleontologist Susannah Maidment from the Natural History Museum, and ex-virologist turned comedian Ria Lina. They dive into the fascinating world of de-extinction. Can we resurrect creatures like the woolly mammoth? They explore the science behind cloning and back-breeding, weighing in on the ethical implications and potential benefits to ecosystems. The humor flows as they discuss extinct species they'd rather not have back, blending laughs with serious insights on biodiversity and our responsibilities.
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De-extinction: Science or Fiction?
- De-extinction, bringing back extinct species, seems like science fiction.
- It raises questions about the possibility and ethics of such an endeavor.
Back-Breeding Aurochs
- Back-breeding involves selectively breeding traits from existing species to resemble extinct ones.
- The Aurochs, ancestor of cattle, is an example, with attempts to recreate its features.
Neanderthal De-Extinction Challenges
- While some Neanderthal DNA exists in modern humans, fully recreating them is unlikely.
- We lack a complete understanding of the Neanderthal genome and its non-coding regions.