Essay about Cloning Endangered Species only Delays...

Cloning Endangered Species only Delays Extinction Last week, scientists revealed they have successfully cloned an endangered Asian gaur -- a stocky ox-like animal with a humped back. Such a technological breakthrough provides confidence that we will soon have the endangered species problem under control. Or does it? Though the universitys burgeoning squirrel population seems to indicate otherwise, species extinction is a grave problem in most parts of the world. Species are imperiled by myriad causes, but the four main perpetrators are habitat destruction and alteration, exotic or invasive species, overhunting and pollution. The gravest threat is the loss of physical habitat: The clearing or large-scale alteration of†¦show more content†¦Unless we rapidly restore large tracts of their natural habitat, giant pandas are doomed. Some people will argue that pandas are not extinct until the last individual -- wild or captive -- is dead. But representation in zoos does not substitute for a natural existence. Nor does it satisfy future generations -- some of whom will certainly wish to see the magnificent animals in their native habitats. And a life of captivity is certainly not the best solution for the pandas themselves. The scientists responsible for the cloning did not claim that their technology would single-handedly solve the biodiversity crisis. And unless the gaur --Noah -- suffers species confusion from being birthed by a domestic cow, his addition will certainly be a small help in the attempt to stave off extinction. But before we throw our money into technological solutions, we should consider the opportunity costs. While the funds for such efforts come from biotechnology firms -- who benefit from flashy stunts such as cloning -- environmentalists will take all that they can get. But the moment governments start investing precious conservation dollars into these techno-fixes, environmentalists will go up in arms. They already know how to protect endangered species. For the cost of one gaur clone -- this involved a team of scientists creating 81 embryos and transferring them into 32 domesticShow MoreRelatedTaking a Look at Cloning2221 Words   |  9 Pagesdifferentiation would reduce the genetic information contained within a cell. This theory pervaded until 1902 when the German embryologist Hans Spelmann showed how split salamander embryos could still grow to adulthood (LaPensee, 2012). The past of cloning has many significant events. The first significant event occurred in 1996 when Ian Wilmut , Keith Campbell and colleagues create the first cloned mammal, a sheep they named Dolly (Back Story, 2013). In 2001, President George W. Bush banned federalRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesauthors have brought their wealth of experience and understanding and provided the field with an imaginative resource to address the dynamics between theory and practice. Dr Susanne Tietze, Bradford University, UK The key to success for managers is not only to be result oriented but also to be wise in their decision making. This requires that they have a deeper than superficial understanding of management and organization issues. McAuley et al. helps student and managers understand organizational performance