Why haven't "we" cloned a mammoth yet?

[4_Legs_Good]

Inspired by this story...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/04/08/calfornia.mammoth.ap/index.html

I know these are fossilized remains, but aren't there mammoth remains partially undecomposed that have been discovered frozen in ice? Maybe I'm wrong about that, but I thought there have been such discoveries.

Why then hasn't anyone tried to clone one using an elephant as a surrogate/mother?

It seems to me that this would be something of a relatively simple "holy grail" of cloning technologies - to bring back a species from beyond extinction.

P.S. remains found only about 50 miles from me! Woo hoo. I'm gonna go digging tonight!

david

[Technowitch]

1. Because DNA is an extremely fragile thing

...and so far, nobody's been able to get any undamaged DNA from the mostly rotten sludge that results when you thaw out a frozen mammoth.

[brainshrub]

2. To be fair, it tastes great with ketchup.

Rotten mammoth sludge... Now that's good eatin'.

[4_Legs_Good]

3. Judging by the contents of my freezer

that makes a lot of sense!

:)

david

[giant_robot]

4. If only ice-age man had access to Glad Press 'n Seal n/t

[Ladyhawk]

11. Yep.

I saw a forensic show where the scientists were able to extract DNA from the roots of teeth. I wonder if they've tried that location with mammoths?

Of course, mammoth teeth were different from human teeth. If they are like elephants, mammoths were born with six sets of teeth, which wore out one set after another until they were gone. If the elephant outlasts all six sets of teeth, it will soon die of starvation. Maybe the replacement teeth would be a good site to look for intact DNA?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. And a very good afternoon to you, 4_Legs_Good!

Seems to me that the LA Times told the story also, and someone said that this was possible. Dunno...Anybody see the possibilites of *ummm* a "real" Jurassic Park here?

(BTW, see my post count? Finally made it...)

:hi:

[4_Legs_Good]

7. Congrats on joining the 1K club!!!

it's a good club!

It's only a matter of time as far as the jurrasic park goes, but I think it won't actually be dinosaurs, but rather stuff that has very close relatives still alive today - like the mammoth and maybe some other smaller guys.

I know cloning mammals is tough, but now that it's been done, the mammoth seems like the next logical step, assuming they can get some good DNA somehow.

:hi:

david

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Thank you so much!

I'm inclined to agree with you on the Jurrasic Park stuff, BTW...Won't it be neat???

:hi:

[4_Legs_Good]

10. Yup!

I wonder what it'll be like, though, for the animals who are all alone in the world.

Well, we shall see...

david

[democracyindanger]

6. We have, we just didn't want you to know.

We knew you'd get all goo-goo eyed over it, and wanted to spare all of us the embarassment.

[4_Legs_Good]

8. Aha! I knew it

You're always keeping secrets from me!

:nuke:

david

[Lisa]

13. also, there's a plan to run the creature as a Republican Senate candidate

Now that Strom has passed away, they need a prehistoric monster to replace him.

[da_chimperor]

12. Because we have yet to make a grill big enough for the mammoth burgers

:9