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LearningCurve

(488 posts) Mon Aug 19, 2013, 04:24 PM Aug 2013

Why would anyone be opposed to de-extinction? [View all]

Last edited Mon Aug 19, 2013, 05:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I've had discussions with several people, many of whom consider the fact that some species are endangered a tragedy. Some of these same people however, are opposed to bringing back extinct species through cloning. I'm curious why there is opposition to this idea. On the contrary, I almost consider it a moral imperative to return species to the Earth that humanity was responsible for eliminating.

Edited to include a link to such a project, that addresses many of the points raised in this thread.

114 replies

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Why would anyone be opposed to de-extinction? [View all] LearningCurve Aug 2013 OP

Terrible use of resources--there are enough species in need of protection. nt geek tragedy Aug 2013 #1

Let's say this doesn't come from public funds LearningCurve Aug 2013 #22

The now-extinct species would be an invasive and potentially disruptive one. geek tragedy Aug 2013 #24

The last point was made in a documentary I recently saw LearningCurve Aug 2013 #28

False on several levels Scootaloo Aug 2013 #57

So, why didn't avocados go extinct after ground sloths did? geek tragedy Aug 2013 #59

Because that's not how it works Scootaloo Aug 2013 #61

And who would teach these animals how to eat, and breed, and avoid predators, or geek tragedy Aug 2013 #64

That's a fair question Scootaloo Aug 2013 #67

What a great post! Metatron Aug 2013 #60

I'll concur with that sentiment here LearningCurve Aug 2013 #62

We've already seen that movie... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #38

Beat me to it.... msanthrope Aug 2013 #41

They'd just die out again. bravenak Aug 2013 #2

You think we really need more dodo birds? CBGLuthier Aug 2013 #3

It's not really a need LearningCurve Aug 2013 #14

Sure. Dodo Nuggets, Dodo Wings with Buffalo Sauce, Dodo Strips..... FSogol Aug 2013 #72

Heh. :) branford Aug 2013 #75

not me, I would love to see dinosaurs running around quinnox Aug 2013 #4

Finally someone is talking sense! LearningCurve Aug 2013 #11

Naw, I'd rather see more calderas and asteroid impacts. kentauros Aug 2013 #36

Curse you and your competing science! LearningCurve Aug 2013 #54

You could badly damage an ecosystem by bringing back one animal without bring back its predator. JVS Aug 2013 #5

True LearningCurve Aug 2013 #16

Two Words demwing Aug 2013 #6

The Smallpox virus is now extinct in the wild. Xipe Totec Aug 2013 #7

yikes! Did you really need to post such a huge blow up picture of that? quinnox Aug 2013 #12

Yeah, that was really tacky, and rude. closeupready Aug 2013 #105

and people don't think we need vaccines anymore. liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #15

We don't need smallpox vaccines anymore. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Aug 2013 #45

Actually, we hope we won't need smallpox vaccines anymore Marrah_G Aug 2013 #53

For the record, I'm opposed to bringing back smallpox LearningCurve Aug 2013 #17

Too damn hot. nt awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #39

By hot do you mean sexy? LearningCurve Aug 2013 #42

Maybe... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #46

Knock yourself out. Just don't use public funds. nt Xipe Totec Aug 2013 #47

should we not use public funds to save the polar bear? MattBaggins Aug 2013 #92

The Polar Bear is extinct? That's news to me Xipe Totec Aug 2013 #104

Very good logic MattBaggins Aug 2013 #110

That applies to Polar Bears (maybe) Xipe Totec Aug 2013 #114

why do you think the mammoth died out in the first place? TorchTheWitch Aug 2013 #68

It is generally agreed mammoths were hunted into extinction LearningCurve Aug 2013 #69

baloney TorchTheWitch Aug 2013 #77

I assume you didn't watch the video LearningCurve Aug 2013 #83

Untrue, actually Scootaloo Aug 2013 #76

time does not flow backwards. The time and environment they would be coming back to is different, liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #8

not opposed, but cautious about the details.... mike_c Aug 2013 #9

Caution I can understand LearningCurve Aug 2013 #18

In person? Sounds like you have some interesting discussions! Quantess Aug 2013 #10

I have an eclectic group of people I converse with LearningCurve Aug 2013 #20

So are you the guy in the movie Skidmore Aug 2013 #13

The guy who funds the lab LearningCurve Aug 2013 #19

Crichton has a lot to answer for... Scootaloo Aug 2013 #63

I'll say he does LearningCurve Aug 2013 #71

Interesting to see a sci-fi writer telling people to be afraid of science, huh? Scootaloo Aug 2013 #78

Yeah, Always found that odd LearningCurve Aug 2013 #85

I like the idea of building a database of DNA patterns to clone creatures on demand from. redgreenandblue Aug 2013 #21

Nice one LearningCurve Aug 2013 #25

Human intervention. Motown_Johnny Aug 2013 #23

This is close to my view LearningCurve Aug 2013 #26

Well, luckily... Scootaloo Aug 2013 #66

Because most of them Tien1985 Aug 2013 #27

A common thread I'm starting to see is waste of resources LearningCurve Aug 2013 #29

Then I still wouldn't Tien1985 Aug 2013 #33

The animal brought back would have no parents, no siblings, no mate The Second Stone Aug 2013 #30

Undoing human mistakes would be good sarisataka Aug 2013 #31

Existing species are on the brink. closeupready Aug 2013 #32

Alot we don't know zipplewrath Aug 2013 #34

exactly. liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #35

A valid point LearningCurve Aug 2013 #37

Just the same zipplewrath Aug 2013 #82

Humanity should attempt to have even more control of the environment? The2ndWheel Aug 2013 #40

Far to many people are afraid of science Ohio Joe Aug 2013 #43

Me either LearningCurve Aug 2013 #44

science does have its negatives. The atom bomb being one of them. liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #49

I don't think anyone denies that science has been mis-used... Ohio Joe Aug 2013 #51

There's a difference in denying science all together and asking rational questions about liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #55

I think its more a fear of the unknown LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #58

There is a time when this may be a good idea. Not now. Lee-Lee Aug 2013 #48

I can think of many valid scientific purposes LearningCurve Aug 2013 #56

"as we colonize other planets" is hundreds of years in the future, at best muriel_volestrangler Aug 2013 #107

Look what the poor wolves have to put up with whenever they are reintroduced to a place... hunter Aug 2013 #50

First we should eliminate the cause of their extinction... immoderate Aug 2013 #52

Thanks for posting this! MelungeonWoman Aug 2013 #65

You are welcome! LearningCurve Aug 2013 #73

Someday someone will be thinking about de-extincting humans. hunter Aug 2013 #70

Don't think we'll need to worry about that..... AverageJoe90 Aug 2013 #113

Jurassic Park? davidn3600 Aug 2013 #74

When we've stopped rendering other species extinct, maybe then we can think about it. arcane1 Aug 2013 #79

Depends on the species AnnieBW Aug 2013 #80

I've walked where Tas Tigers have walked. I'd love to see them regain their place in this world. BlueJazz Aug 2013 #81

I've always been fascinated by the evolution of life there LearningCurve Aug 2013 #87

Also has some cool rocks and shoreline.. BlueJazz Aug 2013 #88

Stunning! LearningCurve Aug 2013 #89

Yes, very opposed. If you vandalize a cathedral you stop spraying paint Recursion Aug 2013 #84

To take the analogy further LearningCurve Aug 2013 #90

Bring back the T-rex! Travis_0004 Aug 2013 #86

^ Wins thread (nt) LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #94

I'm against it when it comes to mankind. Katashi_itto Aug 2013 #91

What about bringing the neanderthal back? LearningCurve Aug 2013 #93

I could go with that. However likely we would drive them back into extinction. Katashi_itto Aug 2013 #96

What if they were tasty though? LearningCurve Aug 2013 #97

Hmmm...you know, that does sound pretty good.... Katashi_itto Aug 2013 #103

Carolina parakeets apparently made cats die... there are sometimes unintended JCMach1 Aug 2013 #95

Say what? XemaSab Aug 2013 #106

apparently so JCMach1 Aug 2013 #109

Unintended consequences that we, as a species, Cerridwen Aug 2013 #98

I'd say the same argument holds for eliminating a species LearningCurve Aug 2013 #99

We've proven we are not intellectually or emotionally mature enough Cerridwen Aug 2013 #100

If I had the money to do this LearningCurve Aug 2013 #101

I agree it would be a fabulous undertaking. Cerridwen Aug 2013 #102

Agreed, these days no island is an island LearningCurve Aug 2013 #108

It's a noble idea.....but it may have unintended consequences. AverageJoe90 Aug 2013 #111

For those reasons, I would advocate caution LearningCurve Aug 2013 #112