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How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction
Could extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? The science says yes. "In How to Clone a Mammoth," Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist and pioneer in "ancient DNA" research, walks readers through the astonishing and controversial process of de-extinction. From deciding which species should be restored, to sequencing their genomes, to anticipating how revived populations might be overseen in the wild, Shapiro vividly explores the extraordinary cutting-edge science that is being used--today--to resurrect the past. Journeying to far-flung Siberian locales in search of ice age bones and delving into her own research--as well as those of fellow experts such as Svante Paabo, George Church, and Craig Venter--Shapiro considers de-extinction's practical benefits and ethical challenges. Would de-extinction change the way we live? Is this really cloning? What are the costs and risks? And what is the ultimate goal?
Using DNA collected from remains as a genetic blueprint, scientists aim to engineer extinct traits--traits that evolved by natural selection over thousands of years--into living organisms. But rather than viewing de-extinction as a way to restore one particular species, Shapiro argues that the overarching goal should be the revitalization and stabilization of contemporary ecosystems. For example, elephants with genes modified to express mammoth traits could expand into the Arctic, re-establishing lost productivity to the tundra ecosystem.
Looking at the very real and compelling science behind an idea once seen as science fiction, "How to Clone a Mammoth" demonstrates how de-extinction will redefine conservation's future."
Using DNA collected from remains as a genetic blueprint, scientists aim to engineer extinct traits--traits that evolved by natural selection over thousands of years--into living organisms. But rather than viewing de-extinction as a way to restore one particular species, Shapiro argues that the overarching goal should be the revitalization and stabilization of contemporary ecosystems. For example, elephants with genes modified to express mammoth traits could expand into the Arctic, re-establishing lost productivity to the tundra ecosystem.
Looking at the very real and compelling science behind an idea once seen as science fiction, "How to Clone a Mammoth" demonstrates how de-extinction will redefine conservation's future."
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2015
112 people are currently reading
2849 people want to read
About the author
Beth Shapiro
10 books55 followersBeth Shapiro is associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, and she received a MacArthur Award in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
January 12, 2015
How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of de-Extinction is a book detailing the trials and tribulations involved in bringing an extinct species back to life.
I got this from Netgalley.
Okay, here's the deal. I found this book very interesting but also very repetitive. After the fourth or fifth description of a possible cloning method, only to have it explained yet again why it wouldn't work for a mammoth, I was ready to commission Bill Bryson to write a cloning book for me.
There were a lot of interesting concepts, like back-breeding, that I'd never heard of. Apparently scientists in Europe have been back-breeding cows to produce something very much like an aurochs for decades. Could the same process be used to create something mammoth-ish from Asian elephants?
The book painstakingly chronicles the trials and tribulations of retrieving intact-ish DNA from frozen mammoth carcasses. Apparently dogs will gnaw bits off of a mammoth carcass once you get it out of the ground.
While de-extincting mammoths was the title feature, other species were covered, like the passenger pigeon, the dodo, and the woolly rhinoceros. I found it really interesting that mammoths survived well into human history and scientists still aren't sure why they went extinct in the first place. There was also some speculation that re-introducing mammoths or mammoth-infused Asian elephants to Siberia could turn the tundra into a grassland in just a few seasons. Interesting things to ponder.
The bottom line is the book covered some interesting topics but could have been more interestingly written. Three out of five stars.
I got this from Netgalley.
Okay, here's the deal. I found this book very interesting but also very repetitive. After the fourth or fifth description of a possible cloning method, only to have it explained yet again why it wouldn't work for a mammoth, I was ready to commission Bill Bryson to write a cloning book for me.
There were a lot of interesting concepts, like back-breeding, that I'd never heard of. Apparently scientists in Europe have been back-breeding cows to produce something very much like an aurochs for decades. Could the same process be used to create something mammoth-ish from Asian elephants?
The book painstakingly chronicles the trials and tribulations of retrieving intact-ish DNA from frozen mammoth carcasses. Apparently dogs will gnaw bits off of a mammoth carcass once you get it out of the ground.
While de-extincting mammoths was the title feature, other species were covered, like the passenger pigeon, the dodo, and the woolly rhinoceros. I found it really interesting that mammoths survived well into human history and scientists still aren't sure why they went extinct in the first place. There was also some speculation that re-introducing mammoths or mammoth-infused Asian elephants to Siberia could turn the tundra into a grassland in just a few seasons. Interesting things to ponder.
The bottom line is the book covered some interesting topics but could have been more interestingly written. Three out of five stars.
July 13, 2015
How to clone a mammoth? Well, you can’t yet. So this is not an instruction manual. Cloning requires a living somatic (body) cell from a creature and a living egg from the same or a very closely related species. Mammoths are not currently living creatures, therefore, there will be no cloning of mammoths. Cue relief for all the terrified folks out there.
This was a very interesting read, it covered a lot of ground—not just scientific issues, but the moral & ethical issues surrounding the subject too. I found it to be quite balanced—not overly enthusiastic about cloning but not scared to death of the prospect either.
The most interesting things I learned?
1. Birds cannot be cloned. But there are other ways that they can be genetically modified, as the chicken farming industry has discovered.
2. The closest living relative to the mammoth is the Indian elephant
3. There is a Pleistocene Park in Siberia and the animals in it are certainly changing the vegetation (in a good way, if you think the tundra should be greener & more lush)
4. The only DNA you get out of animals trapped in amber is fungal DNA (sorry Jurassic Park).
5. Working with ancient DNA is very difficult because it is so easily contaminated and there is modern DNA just hanging in the air, waiting to contaminate everything!
6. The most likely scenario is to splice mammoth genes into the elephant genome and produce a mammoth-like animal which could play the same ecological role as the ancient animal did.
The author points out quite clearly that bringing back exactly one mammoth would be a bad idea. They, like other elephant species, were very social animals and having a lone individual would be needlessly cruel. Also, any mammoth would have to be raised by elephants and would necessarily be influenced by that upbringing. Its behaviour is unlikely to be genuine mammoth behaviour. Both extant elephant species are endangered, so using females of these species to gestate mammoth babies is probably not a good idea—they need to be producing more baby elephants, not indulging our desires to resurrect an extinct animal (and with a gestation period of almost 2 years, they are already very slow-reproducing animals).
A very interesting read, especially as I went to the movie Jurassic World on the weekend (the SeaWorld like scene with the Mosasaur is awesome and I finally see why my online women friends are enthusiastic about Chris Pratt). Plus, I heard on the radio this morning that cattle geneticists are considering splicing genes to make white Black Angus cattle, which would theoretically be less heat-stressed in this climate-changed world we inhabit. Because I had just finished this book, I actually knew a little something about the process that was being described!
This was a very interesting read, it covered a lot of ground—not just scientific issues, but the moral & ethical issues surrounding the subject too. I found it to be quite balanced—not overly enthusiastic about cloning but not scared to death of the prospect either.
The most interesting things I learned?
1. Birds cannot be cloned. But there are other ways that they can be genetically modified, as the chicken farming industry has discovered.
2. The closest living relative to the mammoth is the Indian elephant
3. There is a Pleistocene Park in Siberia and the animals in it are certainly changing the vegetation (in a good way, if you think the tundra should be greener & more lush)
4. The only DNA you get out of animals trapped in amber is fungal DNA (sorry Jurassic Park).
5. Working with ancient DNA is very difficult because it is so easily contaminated and there is modern DNA just hanging in the air, waiting to contaminate everything!
6. The most likely scenario is to splice mammoth genes into the elephant genome and produce a mammoth-like animal which could play the same ecological role as the ancient animal did.
The author points out quite clearly that bringing back exactly one mammoth would be a bad idea. They, like other elephant species, were very social animals and having a lone individual would be needlessly cruel. Also, any mammoth would have to be raised by elephants and would necessarily be influenced by that upbringing. Its behaviour is unlikely to be genuine mammoth behaviour. Both extant elephant species are endangered, so using females of these species to gestate mammoth babies is probably not a good idea—they need to be producing more baby elephants, not indulging our desires to resurrect an extinct animal (and with a gestation period of almost 2 years, they are already very slow-reproducing animals).
A very interesting read, especially as I went to the movie Jurassic World on the weekend (the SeaWorld like scene with the Mosasaur is awesome and I finally see why my online women friends are enthusiastic about Chris Pratt). Plus, I heard on the radio this morning that cattle geneticists are considering splicing genes to make white Black Angus cattle, which would theoretically be less heat-stressed in this climate-changed world we inhabit. Because I had just finished this book, I actually knew a little something about the process that was being described!
July 1, 2016
The topic contained within How to Clone a Mammoth greatly interests me and this is one of numerous books I've read on ancient DNA. Overall I felt as though Shapiro's writing style was not terribly enjoyable or clearly put forth at times. The book could have been much shorter, especially if all of the repetitive material was removed. Why Shapiro insisted on repeating some things nearly or exactly verbatim numerous times is beyond me because they were never the potentially difficult to understand aspects of ancient DNA. I also felt as though Shapiro attempted to be entertaining with some of her stories but they always fell flat. In addition, Shapiro broke up stories or explanations to interject with other material that could have easily been moved elsewhere to have a smoother transition between stories/topics. Unfortunately I really think Shapiro could have benefited by an editor or a better one because the topic is interesting and she is knowledgeable.
P.S. Elephant DNA sequencing really needs to become a priority considering how decimated by poaching the populations are becoming. I did appreciate Shapiro noting that taking elephant eggs and/or impregnating an elephant in order to birth a pseudo Mammoth was a bad idea considering troubles they are already facing.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
P.S. Elephant DNA sequencing really needs to become a priority considering how decimated by poaching the populations are becoming. I did appreciate Shapiro noting that taking elephant eggs and/or impregnating an elephant in order to birth a pseudo Mammoth was a bad idea considering troubles they are already facing.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
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December 22, 2021I can’t say that I have ever personally wanted to clone a mammoth, but you reach a point in your life where you should probably be prepared for certain things, right? Thankfully, Beth Shapiro has my back. How to Clone a Mammoth is a tour through what it would take to resurrect extinct species. It’s a perfect length, and while Shapiro occasionally gets into more complicated biochemistry concepts that you’ll need to skim over, the book as a whole is accessible and interesting.
Shapiro begins by identifying potential definitions and goals of de-extinction. To give you a sample: when do we say that a species has successfully been brought back? When we clone a single member? Or when we’ve established a captive breeding population? Or when we release a population back into the wild? Immediately, Shapiro asks us to confront and unpack our assumptions about the nature of de-extinction, clarifying that it is, like so much in science, a process rather than an event.
Indeed, most of this book seems to be Shapiro’s heartfelt attempt to demystify and de-sensationalize de-extinction. She laments (understandably) how media has (also understandably) seized only upon the most sensationalized, most exaggerated examples of de-extinction, which might lead laypeople like myself to think that we are mere years away from mammoths roaming the Siberian tundra or flocks of billions of passenger pigeons darkening our skies. Shapiro’s whole thesis is basically, “De-extinction is fucking hard, really fucking complicated, and woefully underfunded. But I also think it might be worth it.”
Beyond definitions, Shapiro asks us to consider the goals for de-extinction. Are we doing it for kicks? That feels irresponsible. Perhaps it’s because bringing back an extinct species might have a positive effect on the environment? Possibly, although there are probably less expensive and more practical solutions in many cases. In any event, I love that Shapiro asks us to consider de-extinction holistically, to consider its consequences for ecosystems and our world rather than simply viewing it as a cool but somehow isolated occurrence.
This is truly the strength of the book: at every turn, Shapiro reminds us of our ethical obligations, both of scientists like herself and of every human. These questions of ethics span the entire process of de-extinction, from the selection of species to the harvesting of DNA, sequencing of genomes, preparation of eggs (if that’s the route we go down), and use of surrogate parent species. Even when Shapiro gets into the nitty gritty of the science, she never loses sight of the humanistic need to consider the wider picture and implications of what we are doing.
The science in this science book is really fascinating too. I knew some very basic basics about somatic cell nuclear transfer. Shapiro hooks you up with everything you need to clone a mammoth, along with some different techniques that would work better for birds like passenger pigeons. Of course, one of the most difficult parts of the process is getting a mammoth genome—ancient DNA is very fragile and fragmented. As I mentioned earlier, there are a few points where Shapiro goes into enough detail that I had to carefully dust off my Grade 12 Chemistry knowledge to follow along. The good news is that you don’t really need to follow along to understand the gist.
I also appreciate that this book isn’t too long. There are points where it feels a little repetitive, but I think that’s because Shapiro is deliberately using a cyclic way of storytelling so that she can bring everything back to the beginning at the end. In any event, the book never overstays its welcome, coming to a close just as I’ve had my fill of understanding the immense challenges and potential rewards of de-extinction from this scientist’s point of view.
Definitely a great read if you are interested in ecosystems, communities, and how science can influence our environment (for better or for worse).
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
Shapiro begins by identifying potential definitions and goals of de-extinction. To give you a sample: when do we say that a species has successfully been brought back? When we clone a single member? Or when we’ve established a captive breeding population? Or when we release a population back into the wild? Immediately, Shapiro asks us to confront and unpack our assumptions about the nature of de-extinction, clarifying that it is, like so much in science, a process rather than an event.
Indeed, most of this book seems to be Shapiro’s heartfelt attempt to demystify and de-sensationalize de-extinction. She laments (understandably) how media has (also understandably) seized only upon the most sensationalized, most exaggerated examples of de-extinction, which might lead laypeople like myself to think that we are mere years away from mammoths roaming the Siberian tundra or flocks of billions of passenger pigeons darkening our skies. Shapiro’s whole thesis is basically, “De-extinction is fucking hard, really fucking complicated, and woefully underfunded. But I also think it might be worth it.”
Beyond definitions, Shapiro asks us to consider the goals for de-extinction. Are we doing it for kicks? That feels irresponsible. Perhaps it’s because bringing back an extinct species might have a positive effect on the environment? Possibly, although there are probably less expensive and more practical solutions in many cases. In any event, I love that Shapiro asks us to consider de-extinction holistically, to consider its consequences for ecosystems and our world rather than simply viewing it as a cool but somehow isolated occurrence.
This is truly the strength of the book: at every turn, Shapiro reminds us of our ethical obligations, both of scientists like herself and of every human. These questions of ethics span the entire process of de-extinction, from the selection of species to the harvesting of DNA, sequencing of genomes, preparation of eggs (if that’s the route we go down), and use of surrogate parent species. Even when Shapiro gets into the nitty gritty of the science, she never loses sight of the humanistic need to consider the wider picture and implications of what we are doing.
The science in this science book is really fascinating too. I knew some very basic basics about somatic cell nuclear transfer. Shapiro hooks you up with everything you need to clone a mammoth, along with some different techniques that would work better for birds like passenger pigeons. Of course, one of the most difficult parts of the process is getting a mammoth genome—ancient DNA is very fragile and fragmented. As I mentioned earlier, there are a few points where Shapiro goes into enough detail that I had to carefully dust off my Grade 12 Chemistry knowledge to follow along. The good news is that you don’t really need to follow along to understand the gist.
I also appreciate that this book isn’t too long. There are points where it feels a little repetitive, but I think that’s because Shapiro is deliberately using a cyclic way of storytelling so that she can bring everything back to the beginning at the end. In any event, the book never overstays its welcome, coming to a close just as I’ve had my fill of understanding the immense challenges and potential rewards of de-extinction from this scientist’s point of view.
Definitely a great read if you are interested in ecosystems, communities, and how science can influence our environment (for better or for worse).
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
January 20, 2016
Last year I received Resurrection Science as an ARC from Netgalley and eagerly devoured it. This book was released around the same time, but I was unable to get my hands on it until the local library carried it. I'm quite happy that I was patient enough to get it, as the book was an incredibly rewarding read.
Resurrection Science focused primarily upon the ethical side of de-extinction. It went into the various types of extinction, their causes, and whether or not bringing them back in an abbreviated fashion - forever in captivity, unable to be reintroduced - is that fair? How to Clone a Mammoth touched upon these aspects briefly, but failed to really address those aspects of de-extinction in a satisfactory way. Ultimately, however, that is all right. It addressed other aspects of de-extinction quite beautifully.
How to Clone a Mammoth concerns itself with the scientific and practical aspects of the process. The author, Beth Shapiro, is intimately involved with Revive & Restore - one of the small number of groups championing de-extinction as a way to revive lost ecosystems and aid in encouraging biodiversity where it has been lost. She goes into detail about the importance of de-extinction on that front, and in turn, how the public often views it differently.
The book is a good work of lay-science, perhaps a bit more sophisticated than Bill Bryson's work in A Short History of Nearly Everything but nothing that should put a more casual reader off. She covers the more complex science well, but focuses mainly upon dispelling myths and practical solutions to the problems that may arise.
Personally, being deeply interested in de-extinction and believing in it as a possible solution to some environmental problems, I loved the work. While I do see its capacity for causing potential issues, I ultimately think it will be good - particularly when it comes to places like Pleistocene Park. I hope to see many more books tackling these issues in the near future, and look forward to eventual headlines trumpeting the return of the mammoth. Even if it's simply, in truth, only an elephant with some mammoth genes. :)
Resurrection Science focused primarily upon the ethical side of de-extinction. It went into the various types of extinction, their causes, and whether or not bringing them back in an abbreviated fashion - forever in captivity, unable to be reintroduced - is that fair? How to Clone a Mammoth touched upon these aspects briefly, but failed to really address those aspects of de-extinction in a satisfactory way. Ultimately, however, that is all right. It addressed other aspects of de-extinction quite beautifully.
How to Clone a Mammoth concerns itself with the scientific and practical aspects of the process. The author, Beth Shapiro, is intimately involved with Revive & Restore - one of the small number of groups championing de-extinction as a way to revive lost ecosystems and aid in encouraging biodiversity where it has been lost. She goes into detail about the importance of de-extinction on that front, and in turn, how the public often views it differently.
The book is a good work of lay-science, perhaps a bit more sophisticated than Bill Bryson's work in A Short History of Nearly Everything but nothing that should put a more casual reader off. She covers the more complex science well, but focuses mainly upon dispelling myths and practical solutions to the problems that may arise.
Personally, being deeply interested in de-extinction and believing in it as a possible solution to some environmental problems, I loved the work. While I do see its capacity for causing potential issues, I ultimately think it will be good - particularly when it comes to places like Pleistocene Park. I hope to see many more books tackling these issues in the near future, and look forward to eventual headlines trumpeting the return of the mammoth. Even if it's simply, in truth, only an elephant with some mammoth genes. :)
November 24, 2021
Imagine, if you will, Moira Rose from Schitt's Creek. Imagine how she would say a word like "Mammoth".
Mahmmuth.
Mahmmuth.
Mahmmuth.
Imagine her reading an entire audiobook about the science of cloning, selectively breeding, de-extinctitizing the Mahmmuth. And the DohDoh. And the Pahssunjer Pidjuhn.
Etc.
Maybe you love Moira and her distinct and interesting way of speaking. I immensely enjoy it... when she's in her lane on her show. Having the reader of this audiobook remind me SO STRONGLY of her was... unenjoyable. I had to google who the reader was, and good freaking gravy, she's an AWARD WINNING AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR and it broke my brain.
I wish I could say that the book itself was good. It was interesting and informative at first, but then got very repetitive very quickly. Each new section of info would recover ground we had already covered, but THIS TIME IT'S FROM THIS ANGLE.
Add the repetitious repeating of the recycled info being delivered by Moira Rose (aka Coleen Marlo) and it was all I could do to finish without throwing my new phone at the wall in frustration. This was prevented, perhaps, by the awesome Bluetooth range on the iPhone 13. It was safely charging by the bed while I was downstairs loading the dishwasher while enduring Moira regurgitating the same shit she'd already said in the previous every single chapter again.
Anyway... TL:DR version: We can't clone mahmmuths. You're welcome.
Mahmmuth.
Mahmmuth.
Mahmmuth.
Imagine her reading an entire audiobook about the science of cloning, selectively breeding, de-extinctitizing the Mahmmuth. And the DohDoh. And the Pahssunjer Pidjuhn.
Etc.
Maybe you love Moira and her distinct and interesting way of speaking. I immensely enjoy it... when she's in her lane on her show. Having the reader of this audiobook remind me SO STRONGLY of her was... unenjoyable. I had to google who the reader was, and good freaking gravy, she's an AWARD WINNING AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR and it broke my brain.
I wish I could say that the book itself was good. It was interesting and informative at first, but then got very repetitive very quickly. Each new section of info would recover ground we had already covered, but THIS TIME IT'S FROM THIS ANGLE.
Add the repetitious repeating of the recycled info being delivered by Moira Rose (aka Coleen Marlo) and it was all I could do to finish without throwing my new phone at the wall in frustration. This was prevented, perhaps, by the awesome Bluetooth range on the iPhone 13. It was safely charging by the bed while I was downstairs loading the dishwasher while enduring Moira regurgitating the same shit she'd already said in the previous every single chapter again.
Anyway... TL:DR version: We can't clone mahmmuths. You're welcome.
February 9, 2017
For a title which sounds like a how-to book, this book spends an awful amount of time pointing out the ways in which cloning a mammoth is not possible. A lot of science is stuff I was well aware of, but it’s presented engagingly and clearly, so it was still an enjoyable read. It’s not purely about mammoths, although they are one of the main species considered: after all, they’re thought to have played a significant part in the sustainability of the tundra they inhabited. A lot of the book concerns cases like that: cases where reintroducing an animal to an ecosystem might bring it back into balance.
Despite science fiction’s hopes, cloning an extinct animal is still pretty far off — but it does depend on the methods you use. Shapiro uses a fairly broad definition of cloning, discussing back breeding as well: the process by which a current species is selectively bred to restore features of an ancestral or related species.
There’s a lot of interesting stuff here, including an explanation of why you can’t clone birds in the same way as Dolly the sheep was cloned. Fascinating stuff, and well presented. And if it’s a bit of a killjoy to know that mammoths aren’t so easily cloned, I think the interest of the science and discussed ethical issues still makes it worth it.
Originally posted here.
Despite science fiction’s hopes, cloning an extinct animal is still pretty far off — but it does depend on the methods you use. Shapiro uses a fairly broad definition of cloning, discussing back breeding as well: the process by which a current species is selectively bred to restore features of an ancestral or related species.
There’s a lot of interesting stuff here, including an explanation of why you can’t clone birds in the same way as Dolly the sheep was cloned. Fascinating stuff, and well presented. And if it’s a bit of a killjoy to know that mammoths aren’t so easily cloned, I think the interest of the science and discussed ethical issues still makes it worth it.
Originally posted here.
December 10, 2015
De-extinction is an idea that will become "a reframing of possibilities as momentous as landing humans on the moon was."
I've been enamoured with pleistocene rewilding for some time now. It's such a beautiful dream. You don't even have to resurrect extinct species to start, just restore similar megafauna to the empty spots in an ecological niche. Shapiro's description of a new New Mexico is sublime: donkeys, wild horses, asian elephants and tortoises reintroduced to help restore the landscape, with packs of lions and cheetahs keeping their numbers in check. This, after all, is what North America looked like before humans showed up, and I think we have a duty to restore such a vision. You wouldn't even have to hurt the endangered populations of Africa and Asia to make it happen: the author points out you'll find enough animals just by closing North American zoos.
And that's before you even start cloning extinct species. The author gives a thorough overview of the challenges being faced by those trying to bring back mammoths and passenger pigeons: finding frozen mammoths, mapping and editing the genome, creating a clone (or adapting to the impossibility of such in birds), helping it adapt to its new environment and socializing it, dealing with antiquated and scaremongering GMO laws. There's also plenty of justification for doing so: a large enough herd in Siberia's Pleistocene Park might help regulate the permafrost, keeping all that methane in the ground (though we really would need to get cracking).
I admit some of the hard science went over my head. I'm still not entirely sure how the CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing tool works. And epigenetics, for that matter, still confuses me. But what an idea! The advances made in ancient DNA labs and genome engineering in general are also well documented: glow-in-the-dark chickens and ducks siring chickens and so on.
This, I believe, is why people like me are so captivated by the idea of de-extinction. Not because it is a means to turn back the clock and somehow right our ancestors' wrongs, but because de-extinction uses awesome, exciting, cutting-edge technology to take a giant step forward. De-extinction is a process that allows us to actively create a future that is really better than today, not just one that is less bad than we anticipate.
I've been enamoured with pleistocene rewilding for some time now. It's such a beautiful dream. You don't even have to resurrect extinct species to start, just restore similar megafauna to the empty spots in an ecological niche. Shapiro's description of a new New Mexico is sublime: donkeys, wild horses, asian elephants and tortoises reintroduced to help restore the landscape, with packs of lions and cheetahs keeping their numbers in check. This, after all, is what North America looked like before humans showed up, and I think we have a duty to restore such a vision. You wouldn't even have to hurt the endangered populations of Africa and Asia to make it happen: the author points out you'll find enough animals just by closing North American zoos.
And that's before you even start cloning extinct species. The author gives a thorough overview of the challenges being faced by those trying to bring back mammoths and passenger pigeons: finding frozen mammoths, mapping and editing the genome, creating a clone (or adapting to the impossibility of such in birds), helping it adapt to its new environment and socializing it, dealing with antiquated and scaremongering GMO laws. There's also plenty of justification for doing so: a large enough herd in Siberia's Pleistocene Park might help regulate the permafrost, keeping all that methane in the ground (though we really would need to get cracking).
I admit some of the hard science went over my head. I'm still not entirely sure how the CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing tool works. And epigenetics, for that matter, still confuses me. But what an idea! The advances made in ancient DNA labs and genome engineering in general are also well documented: glow-in-the-dark chickens and ducks siring chickens and so on.
De-extinction will, of course, be risky. We don't know and cannot predict every outcome of resurrecting the past. The conservation success stories of the present day prove, however, that taking risks can be deeply rewarding. Removing every living California condor from the wild was an extraordinarily risky strategy to preserve the species, but one that undoubtedly saved them from extinction. Restoring gray wolf populations to Yellowstone National Park was both risky and, to a degree, unpopular, but the park is now flourishing in a way that it had not been since its establishment in 1872, when wolves and other predators were actively exterminated. Allowing deer, cattle, and other wild animals to take over abandoned land in Europe was touted as both crazy and dangerous, but these reestablished wilderness areas stimulated a widespread shift in attitudes toward wildlife. They inspired new policies aimed at protecting natural spaces and the species that occupy these spaces. How will the world react when the first genetically engineered elephants are strolling casually through Pleistocene Park?
I can't wait to find out.
December 7, 2022
After a 4,000-year hiatus, will mammoths once again roam planet Earth? Beth Shapiro grapples with this question in her book How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-extinction .
While this book’s title might lead one to think that this is a handbook to reviving an extinct species, it is not. Instead of answering our questions about when we can expect mammoth to once again walk the Earth and how we will be able to see them, Shapiro asks questions about why it is worth bringing a species back and if it is even possible to do so. While the answers to Shapiro’s might be less exciting in terms of sheer imaginative potential, they are just as interesting and give a detailed insight into the process of manipulating Ancient DNA.
How to Clone a Mammoth is broken into 11 chapters that mirror the stages a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed scientist might go through after selecting a species to bring back. These topics range from the logistical challenges of finding the resources required in de-extinction research and the science that will recreate extinct genomes to the ultimate goals of de-extinction in the first place.
First, Shapiro builds a strong foundation of knowledge that readers will carry with them for the rest of the book. She explains the science (primarily DNA analysis and manipulation) early in the book in terms that people without PhD’s in Paleontology can understand. The book then follows the steps necessary to clone a mammoth, including- even highlighting- the reality checks a naïve scientist would undergo in their journey to clone a mammoth.
Leading us along like new members of a research team, Shapiro shows us the ideal way we would clone a mammoth. However, we soon realize these ideals are unrealistic and we must ask ourselves: what do we really want from de-extinction? This guides her following explanations of ways around these obstacles and how they affect the final product of mammoth de-extinction research.
While you might be left feeling disappointed after reading How to Clone a Mammoth because Shapiro tells us that we will never have a perfect recreation of the mammoths that roamed the tundra during the Pleistocene, you will feel hopeful because perfect replicas are not necessary in the first place. While a mammoth-like elephant might not sound as exciting as an unextinct mammoth, these elephants might fill the same niche that mammoths did. Shapiro argues that this is the ultimate goal of de-extinction: saving the ecosystem and not the species. This leads her to argue that de-extinction and genetic research can inform and invigorate the conservation of endangered species today.
The book is extremely easy to read and is written so that it reads like a narrative rather than a textbook. After learning about the obstacles to cloning a mammoth, readers are left excited to learn of the innovative solutions designed to circumvent these problems. Additionally, the book covers much more than just cloning and appeals to a wider audience. The ethics of de-extinction are discussed, as are the ecological implications of bringing a species back to life. The practical side of cloning extinct species is examined in addition to the theory behind how such a feat would be possible, making the book feel very comprehensive in scope (without being much more than 200 pages long).
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how it ties the science of de-extinction to modern conservation. Shapiro discusses how the technologies developed to clone animals from the Pleistocene can help prevent living species from going extinct.
Although the vast majority of the book was very approachable, I had to rely on my understanding of molecular biology from school. Some ideas could have been broken down further, however an intimate knowledge of cell machinery is not important to understanding the book in its entirety. Some aspects of the book were repetitive, but this did not detract from the overall experience of the book; it did not get boring. Shapiro aims to demystify and explain the process of de-extinction to readers. The prime audience, in my opinion, is someone with some foundational knowledge of biology, namely about DNA. However, lacking this background will not mar anyone’s experience of the book, they just may not fully grasp gene editing on their first read. An interest in ecology and/or conservation will also predispose a reader to really enjoy the book.
I would recommend this book to those interested in conservation or paleontology. Enthusiasts in ecology and genetics alike would enjoy reading this book and would get a kick out of fantasizing about how they might contribute to a de-extinction project.
Shapiro is successful in providing a framework for de-extinction and left me feeling extremely informed on the topic, without knowing anything about it before (other than that frozen baby mammoths are occasionally found in permafrost). Therefore, I would rate the book highly (9/10). Especially because it is non-fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to read and how it pushed me to continue reading; I never felt as if a needed a break from the book because it was too dense. Humor and narrative are interspersed to not overwhelm the reader, but not at the expense of information, making for a very enjoyable read.
While this book’s title might lead one to think that this is a handbook to reviving an extinct species, it is not. Instead of answering our questions about when we can expect mammoth to once again walk the Earth and how we will be able to see them, Shapiro asks questions about why it is worth bringing a species back and if it is even possible to do so. While the answers to Shapiro’s might be less exciting in terms of sheer imaginative potential, they are just as interesting and give a detailed insight into the process of manipulating Ancient DNA.
How to Clone a Mammoth is broken into 11 chapters that mirror the stages a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed scientist might go through after selecting a species to bring back. These topics range from the logistical challenges of finding the resources required in de-extinction research and the science that will recreate extinct genomes to the ultimate goals of de-extinction in the first place.
First, Shapiro builds a strong foundation of knowledge that readers will carry with them for the rest of the book. She explains the science (primarily DNA analysis and manipulation) early in the book in terms that people without PhD’s in Paleontology can understand. The book then follows the steps necessary to clone a mammoth, including- even highlighting- the reality checks a naïve scientist would undergo in their journey to clone a mammoth.
Leading us along like new members of a research team, Shapiro shows us the ideal way we would clone a mammoth. However, we soon realize these ideals are unrealistic and we must ask ourselves: what do we really want from de-extinction? This guides her following explanations of ways around these obstacles and how they affect the final product of mammoth de-extinction research.
While you might be left feeling disappointed after reading How to Clone a Mammoth because Shapiro tells us that we will never have a perfect recreation of the mammoths that roamed the tundra during the Pleistocene, you will feel hopeful because perfect replicas are not necessary in the first place. While a mammoth-like elephant might not sound as exciting as an unextinct mammoth, these elephants might fill the same niche that mammoths did. Shapiro argues that this is the ultimate goal of de-extinction: saving the ecosystem and not the species. This leads her to argue that de-extinction and genetic research can inform and invigorate the conservation of endangered species today.
The book is extremely easy to read and is written so that it reads like a narrative rather than a textbook. After learning about the obstacles to cloning a mammoth, readers are left excited to learn of the innovative solutions designed to circumvent these problems. Additionally, the book covers much more than just cloning and appeals to a wider audience. The ethics of de-extinction are discussed, as are the ecological implications of bringing a species back to life. The practical side of cloning extinct species is examined in addition to the theory behind how such a feat would be possible, making the book feel very comprehensive in scope (without being much more than 200 pages long).
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how it ties the science of de-extinction to modern conservation. Shapiro discusses how the technologies developed to clone animals from the Pleistocene can help prevent living species from going extinct.
Although the vast majority of the book was very approachable, I had to rely on my understanding of molecular biology from school. Some ideas could have been broken down further, however an intimate knowledge of cell machinery is not important to understanding the book in its entirety. Some aspects of the book were repetitive, but this did not detract from the overall experience of the book; it did not get boring. Shapiro aims to demystify and explain the process of de-extinction to readers. The prime audience, in my opinion, is someone with some foundational knowledge of biology, namely about DNA. However, lacking this background will not mar anyone’s experience of the book, they just may not fully grasp gene editing on their first read. An interest in ecology and/or conservation will also predispose a reader to really enjoy the book.
I would recommend this book to those interested in conservation or paleontology. Enthusiasts in ecology and genetics alike would enjoy reading this book and would get a kick out of fantasizing about how they might contribute to a de-extinction project.
Shapiro is successful in providing a framework for de-extinction and left me feeling extremely informed on the topic, without knowing anything about it before (other than that frozen baby mammoths are occasionally found in permafrost). Therefore, I would rate the book highly (9/10). Especially because it is non-fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to read and how it pushed me to continue reading; I never felt as if a needed a break from the book because it was too dense. Humor and narrative are interspersed to not overwhelm the reader, but not at the expense of information, making for a very enjoyable read.
December 29, 2018
Summary: It might be impossible to clone a mammoth, or, for that matter, to clone any other extinct animal. And it might not be necessary.
The author leads the reader through the problems and reasons why it might not be a good idea even to try in some cases. For example, some animals have gone extinct due to changes in their habitats, and unless these habitats have been restored, the resurrected animals would have no place to go. In addition, DNA is fragile and hard to come by for long-extinct species like mammoth.
Shapiro also considers the ways to solve some of these problems along with the benefits from de-extinction. If mammoths were reintroduced, they might transform the tundra into rich grasslands. Mammoths would also trample away the snow in winter. Snow acts as insulation from the cold air, so the permafrost would be frozen harder and thus be protected from melting by a warming climate — and permafrost has a storehouse of greenhouse gasses locked up in it. Melting permafrost would be a disaster.
But rather than de-extinct species, existing species could be engineered to be so much like them that they can serve the same ecological purpose and even look a lot alike. We can change elephants in a way to bring back something just like a mammoth.
Shapiro doesn’t oppose de-extinction, but she knows it’s going to be hard to do and wants readers to understand what’s involved and what the alternatives are. She fulfills her goal to teach and to share her cautious enthusiasm.
P.S. I read this book as research for a novel. No spoilers, though.
The author leads the reader through the problems and reasons why it might not be a good idea even to try in some cases. For example, some animals have gone extinct due to changes in their habitats, and unless these habitats have been restored, the resurrected animals would have no place to go. In addition, DNA is fragile and hard to come by for long-extinct species like mammoth.
Shapiro also considers the ways to solve some of these problems along with the benefits from de-extinction. If mammoths were reintroduced, they might transform the tundra into rich grasslands. Mammoths would also trample away the snow in winter. Snow acts as insulation from the cold air, so the permafrost would be frozen harder and thus be protected from melting by a warming climate — and permafrost has a storehouse of greenhouse gasses locked up in it. Melting permafrost would be a disaster.
But rather than de-extinct species, existing species could be engineered to be so much like them that they can serve the same ecological purpose and even look a lot alike. We can change elephants in a way to bring back something just like a mammoth.
Shapiro doesn’t oppose de-extinction, but she knows it’s going to be hard to do and wants readers to understand what’s involved and what the alternatives are. She fulfills her goal to teach and to share her cautious enthusiasm.
P.S. I read this book as research for a novel. No spoilers, though.
Read
May 31, 2023Did not finish it, sadly, because it had a soporific effect on me.
August 24, 2016
I get the sense that de-extinction is so new, it doesn't yet provide enough material for a full length book... but too much for an essay. Awkward. This is most likely due to the unengaging writing style, rather than a lack of actual things to talk about, since other books exist on this topic (or at least this is my guess).
This book raises some great questions about the ethics and challenges of de-extinction that I hadn't thought about yet, but became clearly repetitive by the end.
This book raises some great questions about the ethics and challenges of de-extinction that I hadn't thought about yet, but became clearly repetitive by the end.
November 25, 2019
FINAL REVIEW
How to Clone a Mammoth, by Beth Shapiro
Who is Beth Shapiro?
Beth Shapiro is literally a genius: at least that is what the administrators of the MacArthur Fellowship, known by some as The Genius Fund believe. Most of us would be pleased with that alone but Beth is resplendent with titles, honors and she is even holds a DPhil from Oxford, the University not the library. She is a Rhodes Scholar and she has worked for some of the premier companies and organisations in the world that include the Wellcome Trust from where she became the Director of the Henry Wellcome Biomolecules Centre.
Her speciality is in Molecular Biology and Evolution
Beth is no Dodo but she has analyses its mitrocondrial DNA. She is the author of a plethora of scientific publications.
Her Doctoral Thesis citation is: Shapiro, Beth, and A. J. Cooper. Inferring Evolutionary History and Processes Using Ancient DNA (2003).
I did try to obtain a copy however it is in a closed stack at Oxford’s store house and is currently unavailable except by request.
The Author’s presentation at TEDx
I have included here a link to the recent TEDx Conference - DeExtinction for anyone who feels the book might be for them but who still want more information. If you visit the site you will hear directly from Beth Shapiro what she is currently working on when she isn’t writing epic books.
You can find the above mentioned site here: https://reviverestore.org/events/tedx...
This is the greatest gift that you will ever give to your intellect: no small praise.
This book is a distillation of decades of education, rolled up in occasional irreverent humor, and suffused with hard science. No, not the kind you had in grade school where the Biology Master lorded over you because you were more ignorant than he or she. No, Beth Shapiro doesn’t assume any pre knowledge of the subject however she infuses you with facts and her enthusiasm for her subject.
I am going to be honest even if you hated science as a child you will still enjoy this book. You will learn the fundamental’s of the science of De-Extinction. The gamut in this text is huge, spanning a myriad of scientific disciplines, over decades of scientific study in the field of re-animation of the extinct – the Lazarus of our time.
While this subject is a weighty one, the delivery is not. I would compare it to a fine wine or exquisite champagne. It is full of flavor, heavy on the heady stuff and lingers on long after the taste has disappeared.
I struggle to find a comparison here in terms of author’s styles. There have been some who compare Beth Shapiro to a Mary Roach. Whilst I chow down on Mary Roach with her sometimes satirical style of writing. I savor slowly the heady mix of leading new Science, the multitudnal cross over disciplines that are woven together to create a masterpiece of its kind by Beth Cooke. Ever heard of epigenetics? you will here, and you will come away with an appreciation of the enormity of this vast, complicated, ethically challenging subject of re-birthing the dead.
Like Bob the builder ‘we can do this’ but Beth asks the question at least twice. Should we? Is it ethical to bring back long dead animals in a world struggling we are informed with scarcity of resources’? What about the risks as well as the rewards?
These are not questions that are avoided Beth attempts to hit them head on and in a TEDx conference she expresses her reluctance in some aspects of the potential future issues relating to the cloning of extinct species. The book does not dwell on the negative however its focus is on the how rather than the why.
Perhaps we should talk about who the book isn’t for. If you suffer from Post Traumatic Study Dysmorphia (PTSd) then this may not rock your world, or perhaps just maybe it could change you into a science geek.
I know that most of you have no current knowledge of Mammon Telophase, but you will if you give this book some attention. I know you could care less if an elephant has a self repairing hymen – yes that is really true! What I hope you take from this review about How to Clone a Mammoth is that ultimately this technology will impact your life. Once Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, and this technology merge our world will never be the same ever again, and this book is your opportunity to beginning just how much this new science will impact you and yours for all their future generations.
This is a honey the kids have found the matches situation, only it is honey the kids have found the key to Pandora’s Box and they are about to open it.
I cannot express enough to you the importance of this work. If you do not read another book this year decade read this one, and then read all the associated information you can. This isn’t a sudo scientific idea it is absolutely real and time is short. As the apex predator we have impacted the environment and believe that we have contained it, brought it too heel so to speak, but the potential for a ‘monster’ we cannot put back in the box that out performs us or out lives us is a genuine possibility, as unlikely as that may seem to you right now.
In Conclusion>
In short this book is your opportunity to learn about the recent science of DeExtinctions. The book is written by an expert in the field who guides you through the science in a way that almost anyone can absorb, enjoy and comprehend.
Book Related information
The Lazarus Project
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/the...
How to Clone a Mammoth, by Beth Shapiro
Who is Beth Shapiro?
Beth Shapiro is literally a genius: at least that is what the administrators of the MacArthur Fellowship, known by some as The Genius Fund believe. Most of us would be pleased with that alone but Beth is resplendent with titles, honors and she is even holds a DPhil from Oxford, the University not the library. She is a Rhodes Scholar and she has worked for some of the premier companies and organisations in the world that include the Wellcome Trust from where she became the Director of the Henry Wellcome Biomolecules Centre.
Her speciality is in Molecular Biology and Evolution
Beth is no Dodo but she has analyses its mitrocondrial DNA. She is the author of a plethora of scientific publications.
Her Doctoral Thesis citation is: Shapiro, Beth, and A. J. Cooper. Inferring Evolutionary History and Processes Using Ancient DNA (2003).
I did try to obtain a copy however it is in a closed stack at Oxford’s store house and is currently unavailable except by request.
The Author’s presentation at TEDx
I have included here a link to the recent TEDx Conference - DeExtinction for anyone who feels the book might be for them but who still want more information. If you visit the site you will hear directly from Beth Shapiro what she is currently working on when she isn’t writing epic books.
You can find the above mentioned site here: https://reviverestore.org/events/tedx...
This is the greatest gift that you will ever give to your intellect: no small praise.
This book is a distillation of decades of education, rolled up in occasional irreverent humor, and suffused with hard science. No, not the kind you had in grade school where the Biology Master lorded over you because you were more ignorant than he or she. No, Beth Shapiro doesn’t assume any pre knowledge of the subject however she infuses you with facts and her enthusiasm for her subject.
I am going to be honest even if you hated science as a child you will still enjoy this book. You will learn the fundamental’s of the science of De-Extinction. The gamut in this text is huge, spanning a myriad of scientific disciplines, over decades of scientific study in the field of re-animation of the extinct – the Lazarus of our time.
While this subject is a weighty one, the delivery is not. I would compare it to a fine wine or exquisite champagne. It is full of flavor, heavy on the heady stuff and lingers on long after the taste has disappeared.
I struggle to find a comparison here in terms of author’s styles. There have been some who compare Beth Shapiro to a Mary Roach. Whilst I chow down on Mary Roach with her sometimes satirical style of writing. I savor slowly the heady mix of leading new Science, the multitudnal cross over disciplines that are woven together to create a masterpiece of its kind by Beth Cooke. Ever heard of epigenetics? you will here, and you will come away with an appreciation of the enormity of this vast, complicated, ethically challenging subject of re-birthing the dead.
Like Bob the builder ‘we can do this’ but Beth asks the question at least twice. Should we? Is it ethical to bring back long dead animals in a world struggling we are informed with scarcity of resources’? What about the risks as well as the rewards?
These are not questions that are avoided Beth attempts to hit them head on and in a TEDx conference she expresses her reluctance in some aspects of the potential future issues relating to the cloning of extinct species. The book does not dwell on the negative however its focus is on the how rather than the why.
Perhaps we should talk about who the book isn’t for. If you suffer from Post Traumatic Study Dysmorphia (PTSd) then this may not rock your world, or perhaps just maybe it could change you into a science geek.
I know that most of you have no current knowledge of Mammon Telophase, but you will if you give this book some attention. I know you could care less if an elephant has a self repairing hymen – yes that is really true! What I hope you take from this review about How to Clone a Mammoth is that ultimately this technology will impact your life. Once Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, and this technology merge our world will never be the same ever again, and this book is your opportunity to beginning just how much this new science will impact you and yours for all their future generations.
This is a honey the kids have found the matches situation, only it is honey the kids have found the key to Pandora’s Box and they are about to open it.
I cannot express enough to you the importance of this work. If you do not read another book this year decade read this one, and then read all the associated information you can. This isn’t a sudo scientific idea it is absolutely real and time is short. As the apex predator we have impacted the environment and believe that we have contained it, brought it too heel so to speak, but the potential for a ‘monster’ we cannot put back in the box that out performs us or out lives us is a genuine possibility, as unlikely as that may seem to you right now.
In Conclusion>
In short this book is your opportunity to learn about the recent science of DeExtinctions. The book is written by an expert in the field who guides you through the science in a way that almost anyone can absorb, enjoy and comprehend.
Book Related information
The Lazarus Project
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/the...
November 20, 2021
A science book explaining, in clear terms, how DNA and genomes work, and what would be necessary for the possible de-extinction of a mammoth (as well as passenger pigeons and certain other animals that have living 'relatives'). Shapiro discusses genetic, biological, physiological, ethical, real-world and practical aspects of cloning, making the important point that an eco-system's retrieval is more important than that of any single species. Rewilding is also talked about. Timely book to read.
November 6, 2015
Decent pop-sci book about cloning, but it did get repetitive. I enjoyed reading from a scientist directly involved in the field, but one part really stuck out for me. She mentioned the idea of cloning carrier pigeons would be unpopular because no one wants a billion of them flying around North Eastern America, but she never acknowledges that there is no requisite that there would have to 1 billion for a stable population. It just seemed odd she got hung up for several pages about the massive number of potential cloned carrier pigeons when she several times acknowledged that breeding populations for others would/could be much smaller.
August 17, 2015
Shapiro knows how to tell story, and I found her mix of anecdotes and science to be very compelling. Even though I'm a researcher who uses genomics, I learnt a lot about the science behind ancient DNA and attempts to engineer species to be "unextinct".
October 6, 2015
Not enough science and too much preaching and pessimism.
I didn't find this book enjoyable to read, the tone of the book made it a total downer.
A better title would have been "We shouldn't and can't clone a Mammoth so stop asking", but I guess no one would have bought the book.
I didn't find this book enjoyable to read, the tone of the book made it a total downer.
A better title would have been "We shouldn't and can't clone a Mammoth so stop asking", but I guess no one would have bought the book.
October 27, 2019
So the book is mostly based on hypotheticals but it's still very interesting because it talks about the subject from a technical point of view in addition to the reasons why we could do it.
I also had some myths, that I assumed would be true, completely deconstructed. Here's a few examples.
- It turns out that amber is not that great at preserving DNA: there were some supposed results in the 90's about extracting insect DNA from it but it was actually all contamination - there goes Jurassic Park..
- Even if you can avoid contamination (it's a big 'if' since DNA is everywhere in the soil), the DNA you recover is never in as good a state as DNA from living cell: what you get is fragments of DNA and you need a close relative to use its genome as a guide in order to reconstruct a plausible ancient genome
- You also need a close relative because you'll need to transfer this nucleus into a close enough egg in order to produce an embryo. Also, you need someone to rear the "de-exctinct" cub once it's born.
- Cloning via somatic nuclear transfer (the method that was used to clone Dolly) is super ineffective and you need thousands of eggs because most attempts usually fail (actually, turns out some scientists have transplanted ovarian tissue from elephants into mice and those are producing elephant eggs).
- Also, cloning via somatic nuclear transfer could bring to a mismatch between the nuclear genome and the mitochondrial one.
We're probably never going to resurrect a mammoth as it was before becoming extinct but rather something similar. And the method that is going to help is probably by using new gene editing technologies like CRISPR in order to insert fragments of mammoth DNA into the nucleus of elephant cells.
But, if anything, this book is very illuminating as to what genetic techniques are available to us today and I really appreciated the candour of the author when talking about their limitations!
It's really sad that the author was subject to a lot of hate speech after giving a Ted talk. It demonstrates that, first of all, people don't even listen: she demonstrates over and over that she is very conscious about not hurting living animals and not damaging the ecosystem. Also, the "playing god" argument is a bit stale when we think that we, as humans, have been domesticating and breeding both plants and animal species for a very long time, long before we even figured out how heredity worked at all.
I also had some myths, that I assumed would be true, completely deconstructed. Here's a few examples.
- It turns out that amber is not that great at preserving DNA: there were some supposed results in the 90's about extracting insect DNA from it but it was actually all contamination - there goes Jurassic Park..
- Even if you can avoid contamination (it's a big 'if' since DNA is everywhere in the soil), the DNA you recover is never in as good a state as DNA from living cell: what you get is fragments of DNA and you need a close relative to use its genome as a guide in order to reconstruct a plausible ancient genome
- You also need a close relative because you'll need to transfer this nucleus into a close enough egg in order to produce an embryo. Also, you need someone to rear the "de-exctinct" cub once it's born.
- Cloning via somatic nuclear transfer (the method that was used to clone Dolly) is super ineffective and you need thousands of eggs because most attempts usually fail (actually, turns out some scientists have transplanted ovarian tissue from elephants into mice and those are producing elephant eggs).
- Also, cloning via somatic nuclear transfer could bring to a mismatch between the nuclear genome and the mitochondrial one.
We're probably never going to resurrect a mammoth as it was before becoming extinct but rather something similar. And the method that is going to help is probably by using new gene editing technologies like CRISPR in order to insert fragments of mammoth DNA into the nucleus of elephant cells.
But, if anything, this book is very illuminating as to what genetic techniques are available to us today and I really appreciated the candour of the author when talking about their limitations!
It's really sad that the author was subject to a lot of hate speech after giving a Ted talk. It demonstrates that, first of all, people don't even listen: she demonstrates over and over that she is very conscious about not hurting living animals and not damaging the ecosystem. Also, the "playing god" argument is a bit stale when we think that we, as humans, have been domesticating and breeding both plants and animal species for a very long time, long before we even figured out how heredity worked at all.
December 9, 2020
So, we all know that what happened in Jurassic Park isn't scientifically possible, but this book helpfully explains why. What is DNA? How is it preserved? How is it cloned? How do we clone a mammoth? Wait... why can't we clone a mammoth? (Hint: the ancient DNA is too degraded to make a complete copy to clone).
This book is a good primer for the science of de-extinction, as well as several related biological disciplines. Even with degrees in microbiology and medicine, I had no idea just how complex these processes would be. Shapiro is an expert in her field, and writes clearly, with bits for the scientists reading the book, but never complicated enough to confuse laypeople. There's also a lot of her own opinions, and experiences in the book, which personalizes what could be a dry topic.
This book is a good primer for the science of de-extinction, as well as several related biological disciplines. Even with degrees in microbiology and medicine, I had no idea just how complex these processes would be. Shapiro is an expert in her field, and writes clearly, with bits for the scientists reading the book, but never complicated enough to confuse laypeople. There's also a lot of her own opinions, and experiences in the book, which personalizes what could be a dry topic.
November 6, 2023
A fascinating step-by-step walkthrough of de-extinction, and what various forms it could take. Do we use mammoth DNA to recreate real mammoths? Or just create woolly elephants and set them loose in Siberia? Shapiro explores all the angle of de-extinction, sometimes a little too thoroughly, but always with a view to the ethics of the issue.
December 25, 2024
easy quick read if you like science or genetics, but was a little repetitive. super fascinating to learn about de-extinction!
July 13, 2022
Loved reading this - super interesting from the viewpoint of moral and scientific dilemmas.
Points became a bit repetitive at times but the content was digestible enough for both those with basic biological knowledge and those a little more knowledgable.
Points became a bit repetitive at times but the content was digestible enough for both those with basic biological knowledge and those a little more knowledgable.
April 28, 2015
How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction by Beth Shapiro. Copyright 2015 Princeton University Press. New Jersey.
ISBN 978-0-691-15705-4
Recommended: 5 Star.
I read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley, provided by the publisher.
The book's title certainly gets attention because producing living, giant mammals such as mammoths would get a lot of attention. However, quickly the reader is led to having more realistic expectations of what is being done, or can currently or in the foreseeable future be possible to do to re-create extinct species. I personally found the book to be a fascinating read.
Of course, tiny improvements in the various sciences or discoveries which make de-extinction more plausible make big headlines. However, closer examination shows that many of these things are not possible with current technology nor with existing scientific knowledge. Possibly they could be. But, headlines of "Scientists will soon clone a mammoth" attract much more attention than, "Scientists breed rats which could live where extinct kangaroo rats did."
Technological and scientific challenges of sequencing ancient DNA were discussed, and, contrary to popular opinion, we have only barely scratched the surface of DNA sequencing of living organisms, including our own and other organisms which are important or detrimental to us. We have a lot more to learn in this regard! Specifically though, the prospect of getting any DNA from long-extinct creatures, such as dinosaurs out of fossils, is not possible. Jurassic Park will forever remain in the realm of science fiction.
Certainly, cloning, or genetically-engineering cells to grow into creatures which are identical to other creatures which are extinct is appealing. However, it may not be possible, and even if it is possible, it might not be the most efficient or economical way to get a creature to take up the biological niche that an extinct species did. Genetic engineering is a controversial topic, and plants or animals which were de-extincted in this fashion might be regulated as GMOs. There was a long discussion of this in the book about what these would be, legally: Endangered species, or would they be GMOs - or would they if they were not intended as food? It might be more efficient to use more tried-and-true technologies such as selective breeding or back-breeding to produce varieties of existing animals or plants which would have similar traits, and take the same ecological niche as the extinct species did. For instance, the ecological effects of having a large, elephant-like mammal roaming the northern tundras and sub-Arctic were explored, but if we selectively bred Asian elephants which are most-closely related to mammoths or even African elephants so they could live and stay warm enough in cold climates, might this not have the same effect? Would it matter if they were not actually the same species as the mammoths that dominated these cold regions thousands or tens of thousands of years ago? The author believes not. It also would not have the same sensationalistic popular appeal, and would not attract donors. Indeed, this could be an expensive project.
Cloning technology may offer one more tool in the ecologist's toolbox to ensure that recently-extinct species are not gone forever once the last one dies. It may be possible to produce a small number of them. Recreating populations in this manner also has challenges, not the least of which would be that they would need to be bred in captivity for at least some time, then protected once they got out.
Much of the book involves ecology. If a species goes extinct, might it cause other species to also go extinct, or might it cause the proliferation of some other species, to the point where they become a pest and cause problems of their own? It also explores how this could cause animal suffering, such as using a smaller animal to gestate a larger one, or harvesting eggs from a female for use in cloning. This will become less of a problem once artificial wombs that can gestate these clones is invented, but it's not here now.
What are all of the ecological ramifications of de-extincting various lifeforms? Is it wise? Why did it go extinct to begin with, and why won't that immediately repeat? Certainly, some things, such as smallpox, are best left extinct. Re-extincting other, beneficial creatures may have ecological effects too, and it might take their former environment some time to re-adapt to their presence, just as it did to their absence.
ISBN 978-0-691-15705-4
Recommended: 5 Star.
I read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley, provided by the publisher.
The book's title certainly gets attention because producing living, giant mammals such as mammoths would get a lot of attention. However, quickly the reader is led to having more realistic expectations of what is being done, or can currently or in the foreseeable future be possible to do to re-create extinct species. I personally found the book to be a fascinating read.
Of course, tiny improvements in the various sciences or discoveries which make de-extinction more plausible make big headlines. However, closer examination shows that many of these things are not possible with current technology nor with existing scientific knowledge. Possibly they could be. But, headlines of "Scientists will soon clone a mammoth" attract much more attention than, "Scientists breed rats which could live where extinct kangaroo rats did."
Technological and scientific challenges of sequencing ancient DNA were discussed, and, contrary to popular opinion, we have only barely scratched the surface of DNA sequencing of living organisms, including our own and other organisms which are important or detrimental to us. We have a lot more to learn in this regard! Specifically though, the prospect of getting any DNA from long-extinct creatures, such as dinosaurs out of fossils, is not possible. Jurassic Park will forever remain in the realm of science fiction.
Certainly, cloning, or genetically-engineering cells to grow into creatures which are identical to other creatures which are extinct is appealing. However, it may not be possible, and even if it is possible, it might not be the most efficient or economical way to get a creature to take up the biological niche that an extinct species did. Genetic engineering is a controversial topic, and plants or animals which were de-extincted in this fashion might be regulated as GMOs. There was a long discussion of this in the book about what these would be, legally: Endangered species, or would they be GMOs - or would they if they were not intended as food? It might be more efficient to use more tried-and-true technologies such as selective breeding or back-breeding to produce varieties of existing animals or plants which would have similar traits, and take the same ecological niche as the extinct species did. For instance, the ecological effects of having a large, elephant-like mammal roaming the northern tundras and sub-Arctic were explored, but if we selectively bred Asian elephants which are most-closely related to mammoths or even African elephants so they could live and stay warm enough in cold climates, might this not have the same effect? Would it matter if they were not actually the same species as the mammoths that dominated these cold regions thousands or tens of thousands of years ago? The author believes not. It also would not have the same sensationalistic popular appeal, and would not attract donors. Indeed, this could be an expensive project.
Cloning technology may offer one more tool in the ecologist's toolbox to ensure that recently-extinct species are not gone forever once the last one dies. It may be possible to produce a small number of them. Recreating populations in this manner also has challenges, not the least of which would be that they would need to be bred in captivity for at least some time, then protected once they got out.
Much of the book involves ecology. If a species goes extinct, might it cause other species to also go extinct, or might it cause the proliferation of some other species, to the point where they become a pest and cause problems of their own? It also explores how this could cause animal suffering, such as using a smaller animal to gestate a larger one, or harvesting eggs from a female for use in cloning. This will become less of a problem once artificial wombs that can gestate these clones is invented, but it's not here now.
What are all of the ecological ramifications of de-extincting various lifeforms? Is it wise? Why did it go extinct to begin with, and why won't that immediately repeat? Certainly, some things, such as smallpox, are best left extinct. Re-extincting other, beneficial creatures may have ecological effects too, and it might take their former environment some time to re-adapt to their presence, just as it did to their absence.
September 12, 2016
How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction is a book that explains the science behind the de-extinction process and the methodology behind cloning extinct organisms. This is the only book that I have managed to find so far that covers the science of the process and doesn't just discuss all the ethical aspects of this technology. The authorbriefly mentions the ethics, economics, uses and socio-political aspects of de-extinction technology, but this is covered in more detail in the excellent book Resurrection Science: Conservation, De-extinction and the Precarious Future of Wild Things. Resurrection Science and How to Clone a Mammoth compliment each other nicely, and cover the subject in detail up to this point in time.
In this book, Shapiro discusses the purpose of de-extinction and the controversy surrounding this new technology. She also discusses the factors involved in selecting a suitable species for de-extinction; how to find a well preserved specimen so that useful ancient DNA can be obtained, why amber is not a good source of ancient DNA; genome recreation and modification; how to create a clone and the challenges that are encountered with this process; making more of the cloned species; setting the de-extinct population free; and finally, if we should do such a thing.
The book explains the science very well - providing enough details so the reader knows what is going on, but not providing so many minutiae that the reader becomes lost. The author, however, tends to repeat information but the repetitiveness wasn't too annoying. Shapiro is involved with mammoth and dodo de-extinction research, so this book tends to focus on these creatures. However, exciting research and anecdotes from other scientists is also included.
I believe the author has nicely explained her aim in writing this book, namely to provide a road map for de-extinction, beginning with how to decide what species/trait to resurrect, traveling through the circuitous and often confusing path from DNA sequence to living organism, and ending with a discussion about how to manage populations of engineered individuals once they are released into the wild. Shapiro's goal was to explain de-extinction in a way that separates the science form the science-fiction. The author also states that she believes in many cases, de-extinction is scientifically and ethically unjustified. But, she also believes that de-extinction technology has great potential to become an important tool for conserving species and habitats that are currently threatened.
I found this book enjoyable to read and managed to learn a few things in the process. The author also leaves the reader with something to think about.
In this book, Shapiro discusses the purpose of de-extinction and the controversy surrounding this new technology. She also discusses the factors involved in selecting a suitable species for de-extinction; how to find a well preserved specimen so that useful ancient DNA can be obtained, why amber is not a good source of ancient DNA; genome recreation and modification; how to create a clone and the challenges that are encountered with this process; making more of the cloned species; setting the de-extinct population free; and finally, if we should do such a thing.
The book explains the science very well - providing enough details so the reader knows what is going on, but not providing so many minutiae that the reader becomes lost. The author, however, tends to repeat information but the repetitiveness wasn't too annoying. Shapiro is involved with mammoth and dodo de-extinction research, so this book tends to focus on these creatures. However, exciting research and anecdotes from other scientists is also included.
I believe the author has nicely explained her aim in writing this book, namely to provide a road map for de-extinction, beginning with how to decide what species/trait to resurrect, traveling through the circuitous and often confusing path from DNA sequence to living organism, and ending with a discussion about how to manage populations of engineered individuals once they are released into the wild. Shapiro's goal was to explain de-extinction in a way that separates the science form the science-fiction. The author also states that she believes in many cases, de-extinction is scientifically and ethically unjustified. But, she also believes that de-extinction technology has great potential to become an important tool for conserving species and habitats that are currently threatened.
I found this book enjoyable to read and managed to learn a few things in the process. The author also leaves the reader with something to think about.
August 23, 2023
I have already read one book on this subject, earlier in the year, so I am pretty much an expert on resurrecting the mammoth...but dang, if this book didn't make it seem more tricky than the other one I read. Beth Shapiro really does not want you to go into de-extinction with rose colored glasses on! This book is far more technical (the author might disagree; not sure how other readers felt) than most sciency reads, but not so much that an interested layperson couldn't push through it. And it was deliciously, gloriously boring, in the perfect and soothing kind of way that most books can't hit. There's the 'unicorn' books at the nexus of light/easy/fun/good (a la Where'd You Go, Bernadette), which are so hard to find and so valuable, but this new category of soothing-boring unicorn is coming to be just as valuable to me. Learn something, calm your nerves, forget your troubles, and enjoy the mammoths.
June 30, 2015
As someone that simply runs away from everything that is related to biology in some way or another, I found How to Clone a Mammoth a very interesting science book. It is simple, fun and very informative at the same time. The only possible negative thing about it is that it could have been shorter, I didn't find every chapter necessary, yet 240 pages are short enough for a book like this, so I can't really complain about it.
Updated on 30.06.15: I set the rating as 3/5.
Updated on 30.06.15: I set the rating as 3/5.
July 2, 2015
Interesting. Certainly learned a good bit that I didn't know. But for whatever reason it's not the most memorable scientific read I've had. Definitely read better books. But I wouldn't skip it either. Pretty good.
July 28, 2017
So, yes, there is indeed an effort on to bring the Woolly Mammoth back from extinction, either through cloning (led by teams from Japan and South Korea) or through editing the genomes of modern-day Asian Elephants (led by a team from Harvard, with celeb-scientist George Church at the helm). Working on another aspect of the project, Sergey Zimov, assisted by his son Nikita, have already established a nature reserve in remote northeastern Siberia to provide a habitat for the potential mammoths – and of course they have named it Pleistocene Park, because there is no way to talk about this topic without a million references to Jurassic Park. The Zimovs have also provided the impetus for this project by arguing that mammoths would churn the soil and trample the snow as they grazed, thus exposing the permafrost to the freezing temperatures of the air in a Siberian winter, and thereby slowing down global warming.
Shapiro is herself a scientist, one who specializes in recovering and reading Ancient DNA, and it really shows in this book. She understands the science of cloning, sequencing genomes, editing DNA, epigenetic influence on gene expression, and more, and explains it all in a clear and comprehensible way.
She's also the most cynical by far of any of the de-extinction authors I've read; she's skeptical not just of if it's really possible to bring back woolly mammoths, but also if it's a good idea in the first place. She goes deep into many of the arguments against de-extinction and admits that she agrees with many of them. She takes the stance that de-extinction doesn't really "count" unless we can progress all the way to releasing a viable population of the species into the wild, and therefore attention deserves to go to species that will most have a beneficial effect of their ecosystems.
Despite this somewhat negative view, Shapiro is actually involved in a de-extinction project herself (Revive & Restore's effort to de-extinct the passenger pigeon), and I feel like the practicality this gives her infuses the whole book. She's spent years grappling with the questions of how to do this and why, and there's a solidness, a down-to-earthness, to her answers that other authors just don't have. Highly recommended if you really want to know the ins and outs of the science behind de-extinction.
Shapiro is herself a scientist, one who specializes in recovering and reading Ancient DNA, and it really shows in this book. She understands the science of cloning, sequencing genomes, editing DNA, epigenetic influence on gene expression, and more, and explains it all in a clear and comprehensible way.
She's also the most cynical by far of any of the de-extinction authors I've read; she's skeptical not just of if it's really possible to bring back woolly mammoths, but also if it's a good idea in the first place. She goes deep into many of the arguments against de-extinction and admits that she agrees with many of them. She takes the stance that de-extinction doesn't really "count" unless we can progress all the way to releasing a viable population of the species into the wild, and therefore attention deserves to go to species that will most have a beneficial effect of their ecosystems.
Despite this somewhat negative view, Shapiro is actually involved in a de-extinction project herself (Revive & Restore's effort to de-extinct the passenger pigeon), and I feel like the practicality this gives her infuses the whole book. She's spent years grappling with the questions of how to do this and why, and there's a solidness, a down-to-earthness, to her answers that other authors just don't have. Highly recommended if you really want to know the ins and outs of the science behind de-extinction.
February 24, 2022
At some point, the picture on the box goes from a slightly discolored version of the end product to something that you rescued from your dog's mouth and then tried to piece together using your imagination and some sticky tape, to something that a herd of mammoths trampled while escaping a pride of cave lions. In the rain.
This was such an interesting read, and unlike anything I've read up to this point. Beth Shapiro not only explains the history of the mammoth, but how one would go about de-extinction, and how these measures can help current endangered species. I liked that she took the time to explain some of the more in-depth science terms, as not everyone has a background in genetics and de-extinction.
When you are working in the tundra, nobody cares if you sing loudly and out-of-tune as you walk along a meandering river. Nobody laughs at the five layers of clothing you're wearing or mocks the variety of nets you've donned in your latest, ill-fated attempt to limit mosquito access to your flesh. And nobody bats an eye when your battered Mi-8 helicopter makes an unexpected stop in the middle of the Siberian tundra and picks up a French-speaking couple, their five-year-old child, and a large, red cooler.
My absolute favorite parts of this book were the quests to find the ancient DNA located in mammoth fossils. I think it's easy to just think of scientists as stuck in labs all day, when the reality is that many scientists do end up out in the field at some point in their careers, having adventures that many non-scientists can only dream of. Overall it was a well-written and intriguing book.
This was such an interesting read, and unlike anything I've read up to this point. Beth Shapiro not only explains the history of the mammoth, but how one would go about de-extinction, and how these measures can help current endangered species. I liked that she took the time to explain some of the more in-depth science terms, as not everyone has a background in genetics and de-extinction.
When you are working in the tundra, nobody cares if you sing loudly and out-of-tune as you walk along a meandering river. Nobody laughs at the five layers of clothing you're wearing or mocks the variety of nets you've donned in your latest, ill-fated attempt to limit mosquito access to your flesh. And nobody bats an eye when your battered Mi-8 helicopter makes an unexpected stop in the middle of the Siberian tundra and picks up a French-speaking couple, their five-year-old child, and a large, red cooler.
My absolute favorite parts of this book were the quests to find the ancient DNA located in mammoth fossils. I think it's easy to just think of scientists as stuck in labs all day, when the reality is that many scientists do end up out in the field at some point in their careers, having adventures that many non-scientists can only dream of. Overall it was a well-written and intriguing book.
March 13, 2023
Shapiro is a good writer and explained technical concepts well. She is also funny so it was an added bonus. I held off on this book for quite awhile as I personally had not much interest in de-extinction, cloning and resurrecting dead animals, much preferring to focus my attention on still extant species, like many conservationists I imagine. After learning that the book is about more than just the process of genetic engineering dead stuff back to life (which was still the core subject obviously) I gave it a shot.
The author laid out in a methodical way the difficulties at every step of the way, from locating preserved genetic material (DNA) of sufficient quality to be pieced together, to transferring said material to living cells or reconstructing it through modification of existing genes (CRISPER), developing the ensuing embryos by finding suitable surrogate mothers, nurturing the young into well functioning adults and last but not least breeding sufficient genetically diverse populations of 'unextinct' species back to suitable habitat. PHEW! With that many obstacles it is really no wonder we have made little progress yet, and would likely not for a long while. My reservations about it being reaffirmed, I thought Shapiro still did a great job introducing ecological and evolutionary concepts, including rewilding, a cause that I wholeheartedly champion.
This book packs a whole lot of interesting knowledge into a very readable style and deserved the accolades, even if you may not agree with the whole idea.
The author laid out in a methodical way the difficulties at every step of the way, from locating preserved genetic material (DNA) of sufficient quality to be pieced together, to transferring said material to living cells or reconstructing it through modification of existing genes (CRISPER), developing the ensuing embryos by finding suitable surrogate mothers, nurturing the young into well functioning adults and last but not least breeding sufficient genetically diverse populations of 'unextinct' species back to suitable habitat. PHEW! With that many obstacles it is really no wonder we have made little progress yet, and would likely not for a long while. My reservations about it being reaffirmed, I thought Shapiro still did a great job introducing ecological and evolutionary concepts, including rewilding, a cause that I wholeheartedly champion.
This book packs a whole lot of interesting knowledge into a very readable style and deserved the accolades, even if you may not agree with the whole idea.
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