De-extinction

[MotherEve]

What is everyone's opinions on Colossal Biosciences and their efforts to bring back extinct animals? I've been fascinated by this ever since I found out about it a few months ago. For anyone who is unaware, they are a genetics and biosciences company aiming to use genetic engineering and other methods to bring back extinct animals species, with their main focuses being the woolly mammoth, the thylacine (commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger) and the dodo. They are using whatever genetic material is still available from these species to recreate their genome, and plan to use each species' closest living relative to develop the embryo. It is even predicted that the first of these animals could be born as early as 2030! 

To be clear, there are motivations for de-extinction such as environmental impact. Many ecosystems suffer when animals go extinct because their niche is left unfulfilled, leading to the destruction of surrounding plants, and in the case of the thylacine, since they were Tasmania's only apex predator, there has been a whole host of problems in Tasmania following their extinction related to the unbalanced number of other animal species. An unfortunate example of this is Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease occuring at upsetting rates. In the case of mammoths, there is evidence that they could positively impact climate change. 

From a philosophical perspective, do you think this is ethical, and/or necessary? Will these species truly be the same as the original or will they be a brand new species which will simply mimic the extinct one?

There is part of me that thinks that there is something unfair and cruel about introducing these species, especially the woolly mammoth who has not seen this Earth for many, many years, into the present day and the host of problems within it. I have worried about the woolly mammoths and how the rising temperatures will affect these animals who are acclimated, and most well known for their place within icy, snowy and cold climates. However, I have heard that they have been proven to be able to live in warmer climates, too. I am not an expert in this, specifically, it is just something I've heard. Regardless, it's definitely interesting to consider the possible ethical repercussions of a procedure like this.

Another part of me would like to argue from a stance of this being a form of retribution for these beautiful animals which were wrongly wiped from this planet. It is their home just as much as ours, regardless of us taking it from them. The story of the dodo's extinction in particular upsets me, as these birds had no natural predator on their home of Mauritius, so when Dutch explorers arrived, they greeted them curiously and without fear, because the birds literally did not have fear wired into them in any capacity. Regardless, they were killed en-mass, with none of them expecting or resisting it, right up until the moment a rock collided with their skulls. The cruelty of humanity is demonstrated so clearly when one examines the history of extinction, and overall it is my opinion that de-extinction is an amazing thing because it will increase biodiversity, and to reiterate, this is their home! They deserve to be here!

I will pose one more question. How do you think these extinct animals would have evolved if they had not become extinct? This question is more suitable for animals that went extinct a long period of time ago, of course, but nevertheless, it is worth asking.

I am so curious to know what you all think of this because I have such a strong interest and passion in it, and talk about it with whoever wants to listen! It is definitely a deep topic, and the conversation surrounding it can go towards some very fundamental philosophical questions about the nature of our role as a part of Earth, of other animals' role on Earth, and how biodiversity works as a whole as a complex system. I would love if these specific questions and thoughts could be explored by all of you! Can't wait to hear what you think

 

 

[Nilsi]

The resurrected mammoth is not a mammoth - it is a copy without an original, a simulation of something that exists only as myth, as virtuality.

Its return is not evolution but hyperstition: belief generating research, funding, and technology to make itself real.

So yes, it is philosophically interesting - it inverts the illusion of linear time, cause, and effect, making the past contingent on the future.

Edited February 28 by Nilsi

[MotherEve]

1 hour ago, Nilsi said:

The resurrected mammoth is not a mammoth - it is a copy without an original, a simulation of something that exists only as myth, as virtuality.

Its return is not evolution but hyperstition: belief generating research, funding, and technology to make itself real.

So yes, it is philosophically interesting - it inverts the illusion of linear time, cause, and effect, making the past contingent on the future.

I do agree with them being different, since their genes will not be 100% similar to the original animals, but nevertheless it is amazing how humans will soon be able to replicate animal species other than our own.

What you said about it making the past contingent on the future was very interesting, too. What they are doing is entirely against anything what would naturally occur, and that makes it a very unique topic. 

[Nilsi]

8 minutes ago, MotherEve said:

I do agree with them being different, since their genes will not be 100% similar to the original animals, but nevertheless it is amazing how humans will soon be able to replicate animal species other than our own.

What you said about it making the past contingent on the future was very interesting, too. What they are doing is entirely against anything what would naturally occur, and that makes it a very unique topic. 

You should check out Jean Baudrillard and Nick Land if you're into this kind of technological mind-fuckery.

[Hojo]

I think God is to perfect for these animals to survive. Maybe not. But I think there are so many factors that their DNA did not evolve to for so many years that it won't work. Something unexpected will happen.