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Message: <blockquote data-quote="duncan fraser" data-source="post: 2712063" data-attributes="member: 48629">We are all used to the idea of reintroducing regionally extinct species to the UK - well, maybe not absolutely everyone - but how about reintroducing a globally extinct species.In this month's edition of National Geographic, a team of scientists claim they have now developed the ability to clone recently (within the last few thousand years) extinct species and are seriously considering bring back the Passenger Pigeon. If the project goes ahead, they will use DNA from museum specimens, splice it with Rock Pigeon DNA and inject it into Rock Pigeon eggs. This will produce Rock Pigeons that are carrying Passenger Pigeon ova/sperm which will eventually produce Passenger Pigeons, can be bred through selection, and then groups of birds reintroduced into the wild. This will hopefully enhance and strengthen the biodiversity of the relevant areas, possibly benefitting other species - standard ecologist arguments on complexity and holism etc. etc. Also, it will right the wrong carried out by previous generations of humans.Of course, there are objections - possibility of viruses, money is better spent on conserving present species, they are not 'true' Passenger Pigeons etc. etc. However, the technology could also be used to protect currently endangered species and will no doubt become cheaper over time.The only recently extinct species that bred in the UK is the Great Auk. It used to breed in the Orkneys and St. Kilda. It was wiped out through hunting and the introduction of rats onto their breeding islands. With these problems gone (hopefully), with no other species having taken over their ecological niche, and with their prey species still common, there are no ecological reasons for not doing something similar with Great Auks. Razorbills, their closest relative, could be used in place of Rock Pigeons.There are over 70 museum specimens of Great Auks, so the DNA must be out there. Rather than waste money on Trident, failing to deport Abu Qatada, Michael Gove's salary etc. we could do something brilliant and bring back the Great Auk. Imagine seeing one swimming around in a remote Scottish bay. Brilliant!! And the real clincher - it would be another UK tick!! It's got to be worth a try if the technology works.</blockquote>

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