Vancouver, 5/28/38 T.A.D. – Following the awe-inspiring success of the Pacific Mastodon Project, led by Dr. Evelyn Langdon, which captivated the world with its herd of juvenile mastodons in British Columbia, controversial scientist Dr. Susan Frontling has unveiled ambitious plans to clone a Neanderthal child using preserved DNA from ancient remains. Public reaction to the announcement has been largely hostile, though some are championing the potential scientific advances to be gained.
During a press conference, Dr. Frontling declared, “My team and I firmly believe that cloning a Neanderthal child constitutes the next logical step in deepening our understanding of human evolution.” This bold assertion has sparked a fiery debate surrounding the implications of Neanderthal cloning.
Bioethicist Dr. Quincy Poleznik opposes the project, cautioning animatedly, “The creation of a Neanderthal child in our modern world raises huge ethical issues! This child would be the only one of their kind, facing a lifetime of isolation and discrimination, which we, as a society, have a duty to prevent.”
Interestingly, Dr. Evelyn Langdon, the scientist behind the successful mastodon cloning, has also expressed concerns about the Neanderthal cloning project. In a recent interview, she stated, “While I understand the scientific curiosity driving this endeavor, I worry creating a Neanderthal child could lead to the ‘manufacture’ – for want of a better word – of a sub-human population subject to exploitation by unprincipled individuals for labor and other motives.”
“The scientific community and the public at large are left grappling with the implications of resurrecting extinct species at a time when cloning technology is advancing well ahead of our ethical and legal frameworks for handling it,” she added.
Reporting for Future News, this is Katherine Sinclair in Vancouver.