Animal Extinction and Cloning

Introduction

Scientists say we're on track to lose species at a mass-extinction pace, due to climate change and other rapid environmental shifts — so can we just clone them back into existence? Is it a good idea for humans to be tweaking with genomes of endangered species? What good, would it do to restore extinct creatures to the ecosystem that was unable to support them the first time around? Could there be unexpected consequences like the movie "Jurassic Park"?

Task

You have to write an opinion essay about cloning endangered or extinct animals and whether there would be any unexpected consequences in doing so. Yes, cloning is not something new. It has been in existence since 1996 when Dolly the first cloned sheep was created. Since then science has evolved. Whenever a new frozen well preserved mammoth is discovered like Lyiba, scientists start talking about reviving them. How close are we in cloning species that had already become extinct? Is there another way of reviving them except cloning? What leads animals to extinction? First you must become aware of the facts by completing Task 1 and Task 2 and then you must write a 250-300 word opinion essay on Task 3.

Process

Task1

Answer the questions by reading the following links:

1.What were mammoths and mastodons and where did they live?
2.Why are mammoths gone? What killed them?
3.What is so exciting about Lyuba -- the frozen baby woolly mammoth that had been discovered north of the Arctic Circle (Russia)?
4.Why do people today hunt mammoth tusks? Where can they be found?
5.Why are animals becoming extinct? Name some recent species that became extinct and some that are under threat now? What is de-extinction?
6.What is a curio animal?
7.Were gray wolves able to recover the threat of extinction and how?

Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth

http://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/research-posts/ct-scans-of-baby-mammoth-mummies-yield-trove-of-insights

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/125-mammoth-tusks/larmer-text

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/125-species-revival/zimmer-text

http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150962/

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-gray-wolves-endangered-species-status-could-be-removed/

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/05/cloned-species/mueller-text

Task2

Watch the videos and get updated about where science is heading.
Answer the questions

1.Is cloning plausible?

2.How can we revive dinosaurs?

Links

http://www.today.com/video/today/52458183

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbc-news/paleontologist-to-attempt-hatching-a-dinosaur-43890755767

Task 3 - ESSAY

Is cloning endangered or extinct animals unethical? Would there be any consequences if we cloned them or if we just let nature take its course?

A. Plan you writing. Use this link that will help your essay
http://fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/advanced-efl-essay-writing/ecpe-essay-writing-advice.html

B. Write an essay (250-300 words)

Evaluation

(1) Responds fully to the assignment	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(2) Presents a manifest topic statement identifying the issue and the position	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(3) Exercises good critical thinking	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(4) Expresses its purpose clearly and persuasively throughout	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(5) Invokes and uses disciplinary facts correctly	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(6) Provides adequate supporting arguments with reasons, evidence, and examples	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(7) Is focused, well organized, and unified	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(8) Uses direct language that is appropriate for the audience	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(9) Invokes discerning sources when appropriate	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(10) Correctly documents and cites sources	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(11) Is free of errors in grammar, punctuation, word choice, spelling, and format	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
(12) Displays originality and creativity	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR
Overall Evaluation	EXCELLENT	VERY GOOD	ADEQUATE	WEAK	POOR

Conclusion

Learning to write an opinion essay is something important especially for proficiency exams. To answer questions you must stimulate your knowledge first by reading and watching some videos. Being informed is the number one priority. Planning and formulating correctly is also important. Endangered animals and their reviving from extinction is a relatively controversial issue . The web quest provides a source of information to help learners tackle writing tasks.

Credits