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Comment by kleiba | Hacker News Reader

One idea I had a while back is this: with all our modern technology in stem cell research, gene modification and cloning, shouldn't it be possible to recreate actual living clones from prehistoric dinosaur DNA? I mean, sure, these giant wild animals could potentially become dangerous, but how about we confine them to a remote island or so?!

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Good idea, like a park of something? The most difficult part would be naming it. You could go for something like Cretaceus Park, but it doesn't sound too good.

Billy's Cloneasaurus Park

Nailed it!

Oh, a park! Like, where people come and can look at the creatures for an entrance fee? Yeah, sure why not. Also like your naming idea, perhaps something a little catchier?

Imagine a new generation of kids that likes dinosaurs and can actually see them roaming. Can't wait to see the look on their faces when I tell them that I was into dinosaurs when they were still underground

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-extinction , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revival_of_the_woolly_mammoth and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrenean_ibex#Cloning_project

A huge issue with "Jurassic Park" style cloning is that old DNA degrades very quickly

One thought I always had about reviving prehistoric animals is that I feel we've come to understand that animals live in a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms. Some even have specialized diets. Then there's the so called epigenetics. So besides the missing microbiota there may be other factors that are missing and can't easily be recreated.

Coming from the other direction, there's a book about all the plants that were dependant on megafauna for processes like seed dispersal that are sorta hanging around still called "The Ghosts of Evolution".

I believe that you will only need one IT person and I would like the job!

UiX is key, haz u 3D file interface for UNIX system?

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