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Earth's Species To Be Cataloged On the Web

Posted by kdawson on from the can-you-spell-noah's-ark dept.

Matt clues us in to a project to compile everything known about all of Earth's 1.8 million known species and put it all on one Web site, open to the world. The effort is called the Encyclopedia of Life. It will include species descriptions, pictures, maps, videos, sound, sightings by amateurs, and links to entire genomes and scientific journal papers. The site was unveiled today in Washington where the massive effort was announced by some of the world's leading institutions. The project is expected to take about 10 years to complete; it starts out with committed funding for 1/4 of that."

2 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Survival of the fitest by NotQuiteReal · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    And if one of those species drops off the radar, I guess it wasn't meant to be...

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  2. The fallacy of genome retrieval? by Rmorph · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I knew before I read the headline that genomes would pop into the equation. Sigh.

    Lets say we do manage to record the genome of every single remaining organism on earth within the next ten years. Does anyone else see the rather alarming side effect that we will then find another excuse to push even more species towards the brink? Like hunters needed excuses before, but now WE'VE GOT THE GENOME!
    We can wipe it out and bring it back to wipe it out again!

    It seems like theres a whimsical notion that, given enough time and tech (50 years?) the human race will be able to recreate any creature from its original DNA - the "Jurasssic Park effect".

    Never mind the needs of Biodiversity and strongest is fittest, never mind recreating scarce habititats, implanting hereditary memories, reorganising food chains.
    The genome promises so many things... including reincarnation from beyond the brink.

    "Just whip me up a batch of White Rhinos outta the freezer there Bob!"
    "Where'll we put em later?"
    "Who cares - we can make as many as we like!"

    Salvaging the genome of a species is NOT saving that species from extinction. It's putting it in a scientific museum for our children to gaze at.

    IMHO: Put this money into protecting habitats. Not recording their demise.

    Flame me. Save the Rhino.