Biological time machines: A realistic approach for cloning an extinct mammal

Abstract

A recent paper entitled 'Resurrection of DNA function in vivo from an extinct genome' (Pask et al. 2008; PLoS ONE 3:e2240) suggests that the return to life of extinct animals could be just around the corner. Indeed, every time a mammoth is unearthed, hot debates on the possibility of 'resuscitating' it take place worldwide. However, most of this on-going discussion is purely speculative, and is not backed by rigorous scientific criteria. In the present review we describe a step-by-step approach to test the functionality of nuclei collected from a non-living mammal through nuclear transplantation into enucleated oocytes. © Inter-Research 2011.