According to Forbes Magazine, the record- setting box office earnings of Steven Spielberg 's 1993 blockbuster film, Jurassic Park, along with the continued success of its various sequels, underscores the continued public fascination with dinosaurs and other extinct species. Hone also emphasizes this public interest in extinct species as well as the unique insights into evolutionary history that scientists can gain from studying species that once roamed the earth (Hone). However, as in the Jurassic Park series, scientists are not always content to simply study the past. The phenomenon known as de-extinction, moves beyond studying the characteristics of species of the past and takes a larger step toward actually resurrecting them. While some …show more content…
Supporters of de-extinction reason that by studying resurrected species first hand, scientists can learn the underlying causes of extinction and the role that humans played in the destruction of both the extinct species and their natural habitats. The idea is that researchers will be able to develop countermeasures that will restore the earth’s ecosystem to its original state.This counter argument is not valid, however, for two important reasons. According to Strayer, “First because we’ve been changing our world so rapidly, a de-extinguished species won’t be restored to its former ecosystem, but to a different, sometimes radically different ecosystem” (Strayer). This statement illustrates that the damage caused by humans may very likely have cumulative effects that have occured over many centuries; therefore, it is not reasonable to assume that all of these cumulative effects can be repaired by bringing back one species at a time. It would not be possible to recreate the exact circumstances of the earth’s ecosystems at a specific point in time because of differences in the role of species in the environment, the condition of the environment itself, and the present and future impacts of humans. Additionally, …show more content…
While the research does suggest some benefits of de-extinction, such as allowing humans to correct abuses to the environment and aiding the development of technology that will help in preventing more endangered species from becoming extinct, researchers still need to engage in more focused study of the long term effects before launching widespread de-extinction projects. This additional study should emphasize the various dangers associated with de-extinction, such as the potential impact on public attitudes regarding conservation efforts, the diversion of limited funds from conservation, and perhaps most importantly, the unknown results of interference with the process of natural selection. Until more of these consequences are studied in depth, de-extinction should not be
The book title the sixth Extinction Written by Elizabeth Kolbert is based on The extinction of species. Author Kolbert discusses personal research and scientific studies of certain species that have become extinct are becoming extinct. One species Kolbert discusses in her research studies is the Panama Golden A discovery of a fugues that has brought extinction of the golden frog from wild and has speared throughout different counties including the United States. Kolbert travels to Panama to document first-hand what she discovers through scientific research of the mass Extinction of the one of the longest living Amphibians.
Abha Joshi A.P. Environmental Science 08/07/15 The journey that is evolution has always been a deep interest of mine. The Earth and the evolution of its organism had grabbed my attention years ago. I’ve always found evolution as topic that has yet to be fully unraveled.
Primary candidates include keystone species such as wooly mammoths. It is similar to Frankenstein in the way that they are bringing back the dead, but with different technology. In Frankenstein, the creature is made with body parts, mystical chemicals, and a shock of lightning. In De-Extinction, they are bringing the animals back using cells from remains, creating an egg that is placed within a capable host with hopes that the operation is a
When a certain species is removed from their ecosystem, it can have effects on their prey and their predators. Their prey’s population would increase, and their predator’s population would decrease due to their being nothing for it to eat.
Stephen Jay Gould's article, "Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs”, discusses the essence of science and takes into consideration the significant distinction between both science and mere speculations. To my understanding, Gould is trying to communicate to his readers that sometimes scientists too fall victim to the trending themes of our culture and develop these senseless speculations to gain recognition. In order to prove his point, Gould introduces three theories on how the demise of the dinosaurs came to be- sex, drugs, and disaster. He explains that these will be an effective way of illustrating the difference between pseudoscience and genuine science. In my opinion, Gould’s purpose was to show us, the readers, how
Have you ever heard the deafening trumpet of an elephant or witnessed the quick and sudden turns of a cheetah? These natural wonders are merely a fraction of the countless species that compose the complex web of life on Earth. However, the continued presence of these creatures is becoming increasingly jeopardized, as human activities like habitat destruction and poaching are carried out. Enter the wildlife protection community, a network of passionate individuals who devote their efforts to preserving endangered species and their associated habitats. The wildlife protection community is a committed group of individuals who recognize the importance of conserving these creatures and their natural surroundings in order to maintain biodiversity,
Imagine a world where dinosaurs exist again… a Jurassic World. Should scientists bring back extinct species, like that of the dinosaurs? De-extinction is no longer a thing of science fiction; scientists have been trying to clone a Wooly Mammoth since the summer of 2011. Sadly scientists have said that the actual dinosaurs, like that of a T-Rex, have been dead for too long and therefore cannot be brought back. De-
Title Researchers and scientists have constructed extensive research on dinosaur’s extinction. Speculation instead of real evidence seems common in most theories about the dinosaurs’ extinction. However, Jay Gould’s essay “Sex, Drugs, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs” is the complete opposite of speculation over evidence. Rather, Gould uses the mix of persuasive techniques, such as rhetorical questions, logos, along with profound evidence to not only disapprove of other theories but convince readers of his place on the dinosaur’s extinction.
Endless theories and hypothesis’ surround the disappearance of the dinosaur species. Comets, asteroids, disease, and volcanic eruptions are just some of the presumed causes of their extinction. Which one is to believe? In “Sex, Drugs, Disaster, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs,” Stephen Jay Gould presents three proposals for their extinction: Sex, Drugs, and Disasters. Gould explains the three theories on the extinction of dinosaurs by giving a biologic and scientific reason for each, with the purpose of showing that scientific discoveries come from testable theories.
For example, science says that they can’t get enough DNA from dinosaurs to be able to bring them back because they only have fossils. Wooly mammoths may be easier because their bodies have been frozen in ice making it easier to take the DNA and put it in elephants. This process can bring animals back that can affect our ecosystems in a very big way. They can also alter the ways of life in those ecosystems. But it could also repopulate areas that low in numbers, a very good thing.
One reason that de-extinction is a horrible idea is that the species, lets say a wooly mammoth, could potentially take important resources away from other species causing them to disappear. In the article The
Hunting Benefits All Hunting is seen by some present-day people as crooked and dishonorable, while it is really the act of protecting the health of animals for the future. Hunting is a simple and beneficial way to help animals in ways that some people may not understand. What people may not know is that “...the majority of the American public supports hunting even if they don’t personally participate, with about 79 percent of adult Americans nationwide indicating they approve of legal hunting” (“Understanding Hunting”). This percentage of people know the true value of hunting and the betterment it has on our world today. Hunting is a very logical and beneficial way to help animals, along with the hunters themselves.
Have you ever thought about which animals are near extinction or endangerment ? Have you looked them up? How many are left? Which ones have been removed? Do you know why they are going endangered?
If zoos were really concerned, they would try to conserve animals in their natural habitat, “the only way to realistically stop extinction is to preserve the world’s habitat and ecosystems,” (Zoos n.p). While zoos may help a bit, there are better ways to help and learn from
Animals in Their New Natural Habitat Why are different species becoming extinct? Do researchers know how many innocent animals are killed each year? When will animals be protected in a comfortable habitat? In man-made environments, such as zoos and other nature parks, animals that are born in the wild are protected and well taken care of. Due to animals running around in the wild, scientists and researchers can track the amount of animals being killed everyday.