What was science fiction a few years ago is starting to turn into reality. Scientists are hoping to save numerous endangered species through genetic cloning. It's a movement that is going slow, is having low rates of success right now and is not without its critics.
The way this works right now is they create a fully developed embryo of the endangered species, and implant it in a similar species as a surrogate. For example, in 2001, a cow delivered an endangered wild ox from Southeast Asia. African wildcats are being bred inside domestic cats, also. However, for reasons scientists can't explain yet, these clones aren't living very long. The ox lived for 2 days. A Pyrenean ibex only lived for 7 minutes before it died.
While researchers are working on improving their techniques so that we can preserve these species for the future, conservationists argue that money would be better spent in creating and maintaining habitats. Still, science marches on. What do you think? Where is money best spent?