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Novak is among a small group of "de-extinction" engineers, a relatively fringe group of scientists that hope to use genetic engineering to protect or revive iconic animal species ravaged by human activity.
To some, de-extinction is an ecological-sized guilt trip, a species-wide Pet Cemetery horror story ripe for disaster. Yes, biodiversity is important; but who is to say that an extinct species can adapt and survive in an ecological system that's moved on since its passing? Or perhaps more importantly, what if newly-revived animals—a true "invasive species" for Earth—cause more damage than good to our fragile ecosystem?
"Why go through the trouble" is something his team gets asked, said Novak. For passenger pigeons, the answer is simple: recently, almost a
millennium[century] after their man-driven extinction, we finally understand the critical role they played in shaping the eastern North American ecosphere.
The passenger pigeon isn't extinct -- it's merely resting.
(Score: 3, Informative) by HiThere on Wednesday October 24 2018, @04:55PM
Well, predation, except for by house cats, has probably decreased significantly, but the supporting ecosystem is gone, and the passenger pigeon liked to travel in HUGE flocks, so they were quite destructive, and necessarily migratory. Even in the 1800's land owners would try to protect themselves from them, and currently there's a dearth of unowned land.
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