Awards

• Commended for Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science & Technology 2015
• Runner-up for AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books: Young Adult Science Book 2016
• Runner-up for AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books: Young Adult Science Book 2016.
• Winner of AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, Young Adult Science Books 2016
• Winner of Independent Publisher Book Awards - Science 2016
• Winner of PROSE Award in Popular Science & Popular Mathematics, Association of American Publishers 2016
• Winner of PROSE Awards: Popular Science & Popular Mathematics 2016.

Overview

"Could extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? The science says yes. In How to Clone a Mammoth, Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist and pioneer in ""ancient DNA"" research, walks readers through the astonishing and controversial process of de-extinction. From deciding which species should be restored, to sequencing their genomes, to anticipating how revived populations might be overseen in the wild, Shapiro vividly explores the extraordinary cutting-edge science that is being used--today--to resurrect the past. Journeying to far-flung Siberian locales in search of ice age bones and delving into her own research--as well as those of fellow experts such as Svante Paabo, George Church, and Craig Venter--Shapiro considers de-extinction's practical benefits and ethical challenges. Would de-extinction change the way we live? Is this really cloning? What are the costs and risks? And what is the ultimate goal? Using DNA collected from remains as a genetic blueprint, scientists aim to engineer extinct traits--traits that evolved by natural selection over thousands of years--into living organisms.But rather than viewing de-extinction as a way to restore one particular species, Shapiro argues that the overarching goal should be the revitalization and stabilization of contemporary ecosystems. For example, elephants with genes modified to express mammoth traits could expand into the Arctic, re-establishing lost productivity to the tundra ecosystem. Looking at the very real and compelling science behind an idea once seen as science fiction, How to Clone a Mammoth demonstrates how de-extinction will redefine conservation's future."

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9780691157054

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Reviews

[Shapiro] goes to great lengths to demystify the art and science of cloning. --Kirkus Reviews

[Shapiro] goes to great lengths to demystify the art and science of cloning. --Kirkus Reviews Some of the best conversations I've had in recent months have come about while discussing de-extinction. The concept is simple: should we clone extinct animals, Jurassic Park-style, from found genetic material? How do we do it? What would the impact be on the environment? Shapiro makes it clear that we should have this discussion now because the future of de-extinction is real and coming fast. --Andrew Sturgeon, Flavorwire, from 10 Must-Read Academic Books of 2015

Author Information

Beth Shapiro is associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, and she received a MacArthur Award in 2009.

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