Comments on: Brazil aims to clone endangered animals

By: Cybernettr

Cybernettr — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 05:31:09 +0000

It is hypocritical to denounce developing countries for following the footsteps of the industrial revolution

Nonsense. The difference between what occurred during the industrial revolution and what is happening in Brazil and elsewhere today is that during the industrial revolution the deforestation was at least controlled. Today, we have a massive parks system in the US, including Yellowstone, etc. Add to this the fact that back then we lacked an understanding of the fragility of life and the need to preserve it, and excuse Brazil doesn’t have today.

By: Mjr_Dzaster

Mjr_Dzaster — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:38:48 +0000

Doesn’t seem feasible. Cloned animals always seem to be inferior in every way to their master source gene pool. Like what Alliwant said above. I have to agree. Even cloned plants are inferior to their Mother Nature created parents.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:41:24 +0000

as long as they are viable, each of those trillions cells will be a living backup for their code.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:05:43 +0000

Darn! I was spotted! Better find a new hideout! You guys at KurzweilAI are good!
(btw, I thought the logo was the eye of horus or even the rings of saturn.. but if you say crop circles, well…:-)

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:01:43 +0000

Rain forest is very different from the Cerrado, where those species are from.
You’re still right when pointing out the devastation however since, proportionally, the situation may be even worse; but not in the conclusion drawn since many other countries witnessed such a process from much much earlier.
The articles mention China’s pandas and Africa’s Gorillas, but I could easily add Indonesia and Sumatra’s tigers, again China’s and Africa’s elephants, North America (USA mostly)’s Bison (although the original article do mention this one, this is inconsistent with the “all from cerrado” statement).
It is hypocritical to denounce developing countries for following the footsteps of the industrial revolution.

By: alliwant

alliwant — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:25:12 +0000

I wonder if this program will do any more than buy a little time. Clones often seem to suffer diminished vitality, so this may be no better than a short term program. Then again, maybe they will find ways to keep cloned lines vital.

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:52:55 +0000

Or Island of Dr. Moreau?

By: Gorden Russell

Gorden Russell — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:43:27 +0000

Brazil is certainly the place to start saving the genes of wildlife. Have you seen how terrible the devastation is? The deforestation there is vast. People keep cutting down rain forest for cattle ranches that soon loose the fertility of the thin soil, and so the ranchers move on and cut down more trees. After the Sing, these barren abandoned ranches will slowly return to the wilds.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:30:24 +0000

Noah’s refrigerator. =)