Scientists create embryo of an extinct species

[Pheran]

Extinct frog hops back into the gene pool

Australian scientists have grown embryos containing the revived DNA of the extinct gastric-brooding frog, the crucial first step in their attempt to bring a species back to life.

The team from the aptly named Lazarus project inserted the dead genetic material of the extinct amphibian into the donor eggs of another species of living frog, a process similar to the technique used to create the cloned sheep Dolly. The eggs continued to grow into three-day-old embryos, known as blastulas.

"This is the first time this technique has been achieved for an extinct species," said one of the project scientists, conservation biologist Michael Mahony.

It's a pity that dinosaur DNA is almost certainly too old to recover, a real Jurassic park would be amazing.

 

[zinfamous]

Oh shit...here comes Serpentor

 

[ImpulsE69]

Extinct frog hops back into the gene pool



It's a pity that dinosaur DNA is almost certainly too old to recover, a real Jurassic park would be amazing.

If the movies taught us anything at all, it's that it would be amazing for about 30 seconds before they eat you.

 

[waggy]

If the movies taught us anything at all, it's that it would be amazing for about 30 seconds before they eat you.

easy solution. No meat eaters.

 

[Fritzo]

 

[GagHalfrunt]

easy solution. No meat eaters.

Meat eaters can evolve from herbivores. Especially when there are so many slow, defenseless fat-laden humans around.

 

[SagaLore]

Extinct frog hops back into the gene pool



It's a pity that dinosaur DNA is almost certainly too old to recover, a real Jurassic park would be amazing.

Not true. Computers are now fast enough to sequence full dna in a decent amount of time, and there are 3d printer technologies being built to produce those protein structures.

Within our lifetime we may very well have a revived dinosaur.

 

[Saint Nick]

Let me know when they have a wooly mammoth. Until then -- not interested

 

[silverpig]

I think a woolly mammoth, mastodon, or sabre-toothed tiger would be the logical step before dinosaurs.

 

[Red Storm]

Waiting for raptors.

 

[Pheran]

Not true. Computers are now fast enough to sequence full dna in a decent amount of time, and there are 3d printer technologies being built to produce those protein structures.

Within our lifetime we may very well have a revived dinosaur.

That's not relevant. Research has shown that the half-life of DNA is around 520 years, which means it's pretty much 100% gone within 7 million years. Since dinosaurs are 65+ million years old, that is a problem.

 

[diesbudt]

If the movies taught us anything at all, it's that it would be amazing for about 30 seconds before they eat you.

Coolest 30 seconds ever.

 

[Pheran]

I think a woolly mammoth, mastodon, or sabre-toothed tiger would be the logical step before dinosaurs.

Yup, these animals are not nearly as old, so they may be possible to produce.

 

[Slew Foot]

That's not relevant. Research has shown that the half-life of DNA is around 520 years, which means it's pretty much 100% gone within 7 million years. Since dinosaurs are 65+ million years old, that is a problem.

but what if ts cryogenically frozen under miles of tundra? you could make a prize winning sausage with that meat.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

but what if ts cryogenically frozen under miles of tundra? you could make a prize winning sausage with that meat.

cryogenics is -238F or colder, tundra is frozen for 3 feet, and when it thaws it's a million years of bio nastiness with flies so thick the sky is black. what prize is there for that?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

cryogenics is -238F or colder, tundra is frozen for 3 feet, and when it thaws it's a million years of bio nastiness with flies so thick the sky is black. what prize is there for that?

Academy Award for most flies.

 

[ImpulsE69]

hmm..bbq'd brontosaur. Wonder if it tastes like prehistoric chicken...

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Academy Award for most flies.

lord of the flies?

 

[Newbian]

Now all they need to do is get a trex going and we can finally live our dreams of riding them

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

but what if ts cryogenically frozen under miles of tundra? you could make a prize winning sausage with that meat.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2725/prehistoric-its-whats-for-dinner

Been done befo'

 

[SagaLore]

That's not relevant. Research has shown that the half-life of DNA is around 520 years, which means it's pretty much 100% gone within 7 million years. Since dinosaurs are 65+ million years old, that is a problem.

Don't be so sure.

http://discovermagazine.com/2006/apr/dinosaur-dna

 

[SlitheryDee]

Not true. Computers are now fast enough to sequence full dna in a decent amount of time, and there are 3d printer technologies being built to produce those protein structures.

Within our lifetime we may very well have a revived dinosaur.

They couldn't survive here anyway. There's not enough oxygen in the air now to support them.

 

[KeithTalent]

No woolly mammoth no care.

KT

 

[OverVolt]

Well thats going to mess up the tree of life order.

 

[zinfamous]

Not true. Computers are now fast enough to sequence full dna in a decent amount of time, and there are 3d printer technologies being built to produce those protein structures.

Within our lifetime we may very well have a revived dinosaur.

problem is that the DNA is horribly degraded, pretty much beyond use. You can't sequence what isn't there.

Jurassic Park was rather cool in a way, in that it was based on active research at the time, the theory of which was rather sound. It was only discovered that the DNA that was actually extracted was completely useless. Dinosaurs are just too damn old.