De-Extinctions

"As one of the pioneers of the field of ancient DNA, Dr. Lalueza-Fox has witnessed its evolution from a technical curiosity to a field that holds enormous future potential. There are few better placed to give an introduction to the topic of de-extinction." -- Marcus Thomas Pius Gilbert, professor at the Center for GeoGenetics in Denmark and world expert in paleogenomics and de-extinction. "Lalueza-Fox is an expert in the recovery and analysis of ancient DNA, which means he is more than qualified to discuss some of the major technical challenges to bringing extinct species back to life" -- Dr. Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist. Few things seem as irreversible as death, whether for an individual or a species. But what would happen if death was reversible, if we could bring back to life something similar to the species that became extinct in the past? Recent developments in various techniques in molecular biology, among them cloning, synthetic genomes and genetic editing, have led to the emergence of a field of research that is in pursuit of de-extinction. This is a controversial ambition that presents far-reaching scientific, ethical, economic and social challenges. Even so, its proponents defend it as one of the possible ways to restore ecosystems and even fight against climate change. Explained over the course of this book are the possibilities for de-extinction and how they could transform the global ecosystem in the future. ABOUT THE SERIES: Quick Immersions uses accurate and straightforward language to offer a good introduction, or deeper knowledge, on diverse issues, as well-structured texts by prestigious authors delve into the worlds of political and social sciences, philosophy, science and the humanities.