4 ms·
Nice. Does this finding make this sabre-toothed species a good candidate for de-extinction? I wish they discussed how well is DNA preserved in this mummy.
by Qem 2y ago
Nice. Does this finding make this sabre-toothed species a good candidate for de-extinction? I wish they discussed how well is DNA preserved in this mummy.
- rbanffy 2y agoCan we also tamper with the genes to make it friendly and cuddly? There is a bigger market for pets than zoos.
- sandworm101 2y agoAlready done. We call such things "housecats". Want a cuddly wolf? They are called "newfoundlands". The genetic differences between wild killer and cuddly friend are insignificant.
- lukan 2y agoBut the optic differences between wolf and newfoundlands and cats and sabre tooth are quite significant.
- magic_smoke_ee 2y agoPeople keep actual wolves and wolf hybrids as pets. I've met them before and they're a bit different than other dogs who can be like needy children. A wolf can have a personality that's cool, but the risk is great for random wolves or a wolf in a family with children. PS: Huskies are just wolves with the gene for extra drama. ;)
- sandworm101 2y agoWhile there are wolf traits that are different than the average dog, such differences in behavior pale in comparison to differences between dog breeds. The behavioral difference between a typical husky, newfie or havenese are far greater than between wolf and a generic "average" dog of similar size/body.
- rbanffy 2y ago> PS: Huskies are just wolves with the gene for extra drama. ;) And singing. They love to sing along.
- lupusreal 2y agoWhile it's doubtlessly not very safe and probably unethical, a lot of people keep tigers as pets and they usually don't get eaten. If you gave a sabre tooth kitten to somebody experienced with raising large cats, my bet is they could do it without getting eaten. Probably. Despite the risk I bet you'd have no shortage of volunteers willing to try.
- magic_smoke_ee 2y agoUnethical if done intentionally, only ethical if it's a rescue situation that cannot be otherwise avoided, everyone gets along well, and the particular cat isn't an absurdly-large lion or tiger.
- magic_smoke_ee 2y agoSome people keep pumas as pets. https://www.youtube.com/@Iampuma https://www.youtube.com/@Iampuma
- Mistletoe 2y agoI have a fear these two are going to be found half eaten someday.
- ASalazarMX 2y agoMammals tend to become aggressive around puberty, so there should be a way to tamper with his endocrine system to impede maturity and mental development. Humankind has done horrible genetic experiments with wolves, why not start with big cats?
- noselasd 2y agoIf we can, there's the problem of where they would live. Looking at google maps, most of the good places for wildlife now is just a patchworks of deforrested farming fields and roads.