Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Science takes another huge step forward
by Midland Reporter-Telegram
Michael Crichton died this month and his death didn't generate a huge media event, but his works of science fiction will remain with us forever. In fact, some of his work may become science reality instead of mere fiction.
Of course, Crichton was the creator of the famous book "Jurassic Park" that explored the possibility of reviving extinct animals into living and breathing forms. Even though such events often are described in films and novels, it had in reality been impossible.
But within a week of Crichton's death, some interesting findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States. Japanese scientists said in the findings they had created a mouse from a dead cell frozen for 16 years.
That in itself was quite a newsmaker, but the scientists also said this was an important step in the long impossible dream of bringing back extinct animals such as mammoths. Is that not back to step one of Jurassic Park?
Admittedly, the Japanese scientists did not extract DNA from mosquitoes trapped in ancient amber like that in Crichton's novel. Instead, scientists at the government-backed research institute Riken used the dead cell of a mouse that had been preserved at minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature similar to frozen ground.
The scientists extracted a cell nucleus from an organ of the dead mouse and planted it into an egg of another mouse which was alive, leading to the birth of the cloned mouse, according to the researchers.
"The newly developed technology of nucleus transfer greatly improved the possibility of reviving extinct animals," the research team led by Teruhiko Wakayama said in a statement.
To revive a mammoth, researchers would need to find a way to implant a cell nucleus of a mammoth into the egg of an elephant and then implant the embryo into an elephant's uterus. The elephant is the closest modern relative of the mammoth, a huge woolly mammal believed to have died out with the Ice Age.
Of course, Crichton himself didn't think the idea was all that cool. In his own way, he warned us about playing God in such matters. Even with these new discoveries, cloning is still considered controversial in the world of bioethics. Also, if the animals are eaten, food safety is a concern.
Could it be that science is taking us to a place we shouldn't go? Crichton's point may follow us throughout our coming history.
Of course, Crichton was the creator of the famous book "Jurassic Park" that explored the possibility of reviving extinct animals into living and breathing forms. Even though such events often are described in films and novels, it had in reality been impossible.
But within a week of Crichton's death, some interesting findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States. Japanese scientists said in the findings they had created a mouse from a dead cell frozen for 16 years.
That in itself was quite a newsmaker, but the scientists also said this was an important step in the long impossible dream of bringing back extinct animals such as mammoths. Is that not back to step one of Jurassic Park?
Admittedly, the Japanese scientists did not extract DNA from mosquitoes trapped in ancient amber like that in Crichton's novel. Instead, scientists at the government-backed research institute Riken used the dead cell of a mouse that had been preserved at minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature similar to frozen ground.
The scientists extracted a cell nucleus from an organ of the dead mouse and planted it into an egg of another mouse which was alive, leading to the birth of the cloned mouse, according to the researchers.
"The newly developed technology of nucleus transfer greatly improved the possibility of reviving extinct animals," the research team led by Teruhiko Wakayama said in a statement.
To revive a mammoth, researchers would need to find a way to implant a cell nucleus of a mammoth into the egg of an elephant and then implant the embryo into an elephant's uterus. The elephant is the closest modern relative of the mammoth, a huge woolly mammal believed to have died out with the Ice Age.
Of course, Crichton himself didn't think the idea was all that cool. In his own way, he warned us about playing God in such matters. Even with these new discoveries, cloning is still considered controversial in the world of bioethics. Also, if the animals are eaten, food safety is a concern.
Could it be that science is taking us to a place we shouldn't go? Crichton's point may follow us throughout our coming history.
 |
 |
|
| It takes a crisis to get industry to move forward | Republicans may see their worst fears come true |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, however we reserve the right to delete any post we see that may be considered slanderous, excessive and/or foul language, or any post that we may deem inappropriate.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
News
Sports
Business
Entertain
Life
