Let's clone those extinct animals!

Yesterday New Scientist published an article with a list of the ten twelve most exciting extinct animals to resurrect from well-preserved DNA. The list represents animals which have gone extinct within the last 25,000 years. Dinosaurs will be impossible because DNA won't last more than a million years at most.

Resurrection requires not just the DNA, but also a suitable surrogate, which is not always easy to find either. So while these are not currently feasible to clone, it is at least not unthinkable that we one day will be able to clone a neanderthal, for example. And can you just imagine seeing the little neanderthal baby being born, grow up, learn to speak, etc. I personally would love to be the surrogate father.

The list also includes the Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). They say it's almost extinct, but that's a stretch. It is the most abundant species of gorilla, and compared to the Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) it is doing quite well. The latter is under siege, unfortunately.

But since we are including species that only almost extinct, how about the Northern White Rhinoceros? There are only seven (7) left in the world. Two in San Diego Wild Animal Park and five in Prague. Breeding efforts have failed, so once these animals are dead, the species is extinct. We went to see both of the in San Diego last weekend, and they keep breaking my heart whenever I see them. Courtesy of credulous, ignorant dingbats.

1. Sabre-toothed tiger (Smilodon fatalis)
   Extinct: ~10,000 years ago
DNA preservation: 3/5, Suitable surrogate: 3/5
2. Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis)
   Extinct: ~25,000 years ago
, DNA preservation: 1/5, Suitable surrogate: 5/5
3. Short-faced bear (Arctodus simus)
   Extinct: ~11,000 years ago
, DNA preservation: 3/5, Suitable surrogate: 2/5
4. Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
   Extinct: 1936
, DNA preservation: 4/5, Suitable surrogate: 1/5
5. Glyptodon (Doedicurus clavicaudatus)
   Extinct: ~11,000 years ago
, DNA preservation: 2/5, Suitable surrogate: 1/5
6. Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis)
   Extinct: ~10,000 years ago
, DNA preservation: 4/5, Suitable surrogate: 5/5
7. Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
   Extinct: ~AD 1690, 
DNA preservation: 1/5, Suitable surrogate: 3/5
8. Giant ground sloth (Megatherium americanum)
   Extinct: ~8000 years ago, 
DNA preservation: 2/5, Suitable surrogate: 1/5
9. Moa (Dinornis robustus)
   Extinct: ~AD 1500, DNA preservation: 3/5, Suitable surrogate: 2/5
10. Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus)
    Extinct: ~7700 years ago
, DNA preservation: 3/5, Suitable surrogate: 2/5
11. Giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis)
    Extinct: ~10,000 years ago, 
DNA preservation: 2/5, Suitable surrogate: 1/5
12. Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
    Extinct: Almost
, DNA preservation: 5/5, Suitable surrogate: 5/5