First wood bison head for release in southwest Alaska

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/pets/sns-bc-ak--wood-bison-restoration-20150322-story.html?dom=fas&loc=contentwell&lnk=associated-press



Very cool

http://phys.org/news/2015-03-wooly-mammoth.html#ajTabs



Next up Wooly Mammoths?

I know you're kidding, but the amount of primary production required to sustain a mammoth is not present in a modern day tundra. The closest habitat that we currently have to what they probably thrived in are mountains in semitropical regions. The amount of rapidly growing palatable vegetation needed would be substantial. The climate wouldn't allow us to restore them to anything resembling their natural habitat. So probably not. I do wonder if somebody wont try to implant mammoth DNA in an elephant egg and bring it to term soon though.

Rocinante wrote:I know you're kidding, but the amount of primary production required to sustain a mammoth is not present in a modern day tundra. The closest habitat that we currently have to what they probably thrived in are mountains in semitropical regions. The amount of rapidly growing palatable vegetation needed would be substantial. The climate wouldn't allow us to restore them to anything resembling their natural habitat. So probably not. I do wonder if somebody wont try to implant mammoth DNA in an elephant egg and bring it to term soon though.

That DNA question is answered at the link provided.

Sorry didn't see the second link. I knew about that research.

Can I hunt them yet?

Rocinante wrote: do wonder if somebody wont try to implant mammoth DNA in an elephant egg and bring it to term soon though.

I'm going to implant mammoth DNA into a condor's egg. It probably won't work, but if it does, it's going to be really fucking cool.

[quote="Rocinante"]I know you're kidding, but the amount of primary production required to sustain a mammoth is not present in a modern day tundra. The closest habitat that we currently have to what they probably thrived in are mountains in semitropical regions. The amount of rapidly growing palatable vegetation needed would be substantial. The climate wouldn't allow us to restore them to anything resembling their natural habitat. So probably not. I do wonder if somebody wont try to implant mammoth DNA in an elephant egg and bring it to term soon though.[/quote

Is it a certainty that they would not adapt? The article also suggests prioritizing DNA for traits.

What could possibly go wrong when we start bringing ancient species back to life?

Floyd Robertson wrote:What could possibly go wrong when we start bringing ancient species back to life?

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Green Note wrote:

Is it a certainty that they would not adapt? The article also suggests prioritizing DNA for traits.

It's just a question of physiological needs for survival. The modern tundra does not produce enough accessible carbon to sustain a mammoth. Could one find stuff to eat? Maybe, but not enough. They wouldn't have the physical tools to exploit the food that was there. A trunk is for grasping large things, not eating low, sparse grasses.