Changing conditions put intense pressure on organisms-some of which become extinct. For example, of the original 62 species of honeycreeper found in Hawaii only 18 remain. Scientists have the technologies that may allow bringing back organisms that have become extinct. This brings up ethical questions about the cost/benefit of resurrecting extinct species and whether it is the right thing to do. Joseph Bennett, a professor of biology at Carleton University in Ontario, wanted to determine the cost of resurrecting and maintaining an extinct species. Since the up-front cost of resurrecting an extinct species is very difficult to determine, the researchers decided instead to look at the cost of reintroducing and protecting a resurrected organism in the wild. To accomplish this, the researchers considered 70 animals from New Zealand and 29 animals from New South Wales that went extinct within the last 1,000 years. From this list, they chose 11 New Zealand species and five NSW species that were relatively similar in habitat and lifestyles to living species that are covered under current conservation plans. Their results indicated that the funds necessary to conserve the five NSW species would actually be enough to prevent 42 endangered species from becoming extinct. 1. Should we try to prevent extinction of any species? 2. Is it the right thing to resurrect extinct species? 3. Cost/benefit wise why preventing is much more superior than resurrecting?
Changing conditions put intense pressure on organisms-some of which become extinct. For example, of the original 62 species of honeycreeper found in Hawaii only 18 remain. Scientists have the technologies that may allow bringing back organisms that have become extinct. This brings up ethical questions about the cost/benefit of resurrecting extinct species and whether it is the right thing to do. Joseph Bennett, a professor of biology at Carleton University in Ontario, wanted to determine the cost of resurrecting and maintaining an extinct species. Since the up-front cost of resurrecting an extinct species is very difficult to determine, the researchers decided instead to look at the cost of reintroducing and protecting a resurrected organism in the wild. To accomplish this, the researchers considered 70 animals from New Zealand and 29 animals from New South Wales that went extinct within the last 1,000 years. From this list, they chose 11 New Zealand species and five NSW species that were relatively similar in habitat and lifestyles to living species that are covered under current conservation plans. Their results indicated that the funds necessary to conserve the five NSW species would actually be enough to prevent 42 endangered species from becoming extinct. 1. Should we try to prevent extinction of any species? 2. Is it the right thing to resurrect extinct species? 3. Cost/benefit wise why preventing is much more superior than resurrecting?
Chapter17: Processes Of Evolution
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 8SA: Which of the following is not part of how we define a species? a. Its individuals appear different...
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