Woolly Mammoth Making a Comeback?

South Korean and Russian scientists are teaming up to clone a woolly mammoth, essentially resurrecting the species after tens of thousands of years of extinction.  They intend to do this by replacing the nuclei of egg cells from an elephant with nuclei from a mammoth’s somatic cells.  The new mammoth DNA embryos would then be planted into elephant wombs for delivery.

On the surface, this seems feasible, but a little digging raises doubts.  Lead South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk has a history of faking research.  In 2009 he was found guilty of embezzlement and bioethical violations relating to research he had carried out that deals with stem cells.

So will the woolly mammoth make a return to the realm of the living?  Will we be eating mammoth cheese like the giants do on the plains of Skyrim?  I guess, like with all things, only time will tell.

S.Korean, Russian scientists bid to clone mammoth – PhysOrg.com