Will the extinct ever walk the Earth again? Elizabeth Gomes Period 1

Timeline of Biotechnology Recombinant DNA PCR Jurassic Park is published Human Genome Project First successful cloning Pyrenean Ibex cloned D printing is more widely available

“DNA has a 521-year half-life” Research at a university in Perth, Australia studied animal bones that had similar preservation conditions They claim DNA has a 521- year half-life, but there are variations to this based on how the DNA was preserved (temperature, presence of enzymes, in water)

Timeline of DNA’s Half-life 65 million years ago- last dinosaurs 6.8 million years ago- all DNA broken down in ideal DNA preservation conditions 1.5 million years ago- DNA is still readable/ can be sequenced

Conclusion Dinosaurs and their genetic material is beyond cloning Even if we could clone them they would have to deal with –Haven’t yet successfully cloned reptiles –Diseases and defects cloned animals are prone to (Lung issues are most common) –Environmental conditions they aren’t adapted to

Pyrenean Ibex Case Last Pyrenean Ibex was a female who died in 2000 Scientists collected her DNA and implanted 208 cloned fetuses in domestic goats Only seven goats became pregnant and only one was born, but died after 7 minutes because of lung abnormalities

What does the future hold? Extinct animals can and will be cloned Not all extinct animals are candidates however –Only animals with sufficient DNA samples "Scientists believe that even cloned animals that appear normal are likely to have subtle defects." (Campbell 417)

Works Cited Campbell, Neil A., and Jane B. Reece. AP Edition Biology. 7th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Education, Print. Nature. MacMillan Publishers, 10 Oct Web. 19 Feb < dna-has-a-521-year-half-life >. Plant Fossils of West Virginia. N.p., 21 Mar Web. 19 Feb < WVFossils/Carboniferous_climate.html>. Space.com. Techmedia Network, n.d. Web. 19 Feb < gasping-breath-jurassic-era.html>. Wired. Conde Nast, 12 July Web. 19 Feb < malaysia-may-cl/>.