Scientists hoping to clone prehistoric woolly mammoths are preparing their first frozen DNA samples in a bid to revive the species. Researchers at the Gifu Science and Technology Centre and Kinki University want to use the genetic material in the cells to clone a woolly mammoth, according to Akira Irytani, a scientist at Kinki University in western Japan.
They must not have watched "Jurassic Park".
First they must determine whether the five specimens airlifted from Russia are really from mammoths. If so, they must decide whether the DNA locked inside is well enough preserved to self-replicate. After that, it could take several years to actually produce an animal. "There are many different problems to overcome," the Gifu Centre’s Hideyoshi Ichibashi said. "I think we can move ahead only one step at a time."
And we all know what happens when a Japanese Mad Scientist begins experimenting with prehistoric beasts, don’t we? Somebody put the JSDF on alert and find out where Godzilla and Mothra are. |