How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of DeExtinction

An insiders view on bringing extinct species back to lifeCould extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? The science says yes. In How to Clone a Mammoth, Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist and pioneer in ancient DNA research, walks readers through the astonishing and controversial process of deextinction. From deciding which species should be restored, to sequencing their genomes, to anticipating how revived populations might be overseen in the wild, Shapiro vividly explores the extraordinary cuttingedge science that is being usedtodayto resurrect the past. Journeying to farflung Siberian locales in search of ice age bones and delving into her own researchas well as those of fellow experts such as Svante Paabo, George Church, and Craig VenterShapiro considers deextinctions practical benefits and ethical challenges. Would deextinction change the way we live? Is this really cloning? What are the costs and risks? And what is the ultimate goal?Using DNA collected from remains as a genetic blueprint, scientists aim to engineer extinct traitstraits that evolved by natural selection over thousands of yearsinto living organisms. But rather than viewing deextinction as a way to restore one particular species, Shapiro argues that the overarching goal should be the revitalization and stabilization of contemporary ecosystems. For example, elephants with genes modified to express mammoth traits could expand into the Arctic, reestablishing lost productivity to the tundra ecosystem.Looking at the very real and compelling science behind an idea once seen as science fiction, How to Clone a Mammoth demonstrates how deextinction will redefine conservations future.