[Bright Eyes]

Red blood cells are being discovered in fossilized dinosaur bones, so if technology moves ahead as some expect we may yet see some dinosaurs being rebred. Given the noticeable similarities between fossilized dinosaurs and and written descriptions of dragons, it may be that once you have the dinosaurs you will have the dragons.

[horatio]

Originally Posted by Star Trek Viewer

In less than a century, we're going to have the genetic technology to create pretty much anything we want. People say we could re-create dinosaurs, but I say, what about dragons?

If some billionaire (or trillionaire, as the case may be, in the future) wanted to create a zoo full of dragons or other exotic creatures, what would you think of that? Wouldn't that be the ultimate zoo attraction?

Dragons that actually flew and breathed fire. Maybe that could be bigger than they were in mythology -- Godzilla-sized, even. Would you support that, or go see them?

The sky's (not) the limit!

Cool, I need something for my pond, so can I also order a Loch Ness Monster?

[Tiberius1964]

Originally Posted by T'Pau

I love sauropods. And we'd finally know if they crack their tails like whips. Seriously, if someone created a zoo with dinosaurs, it would be the most popular attraction in the world. Security would be a huge problem though - how do you keep them inside? Most of these things were enormous, much much bigger than elephants.

It would seem logical to build an enclosure about 40 feet deep and several hundred feet across, that people could walk around. Just make sure you put up really good fences so no one climbs or falls in...

A friend of mine critiqued one aspect of Jurassic Park thusly: they used electric fences to keep in large, dangerous animals...in an area that is frequently hit by hurricanes.

What could go wrong?

[MonsieurHood]

Originally Posted by kevin

I'd advise watching 'Reign of Fire' to see how that might work out.

I'd advise watching "Dragonheart" and "Pete's Dragon", for an opposing viewpoint as to how that might work out.

[Big D]

Originally Posted by Bright Eyes

Red blood cells are being discovered in fossilized dinosaur bones, so if technology moves ahead as some expect we may yet see some dinosaurs being rebred.

Red cells don't contain DNA, but traces of DNA *do* survive fossilisation. In time, it's inevitable we'll have the means to reincarnate extinct species...

It'd be a great chance to learn. 99.99% of all species that have ever lived are currently extinct; what we have today is only one ten-thousandth of all life this Earth has borne.

Creating 'novelty' monsters and bizarre mutations would be an unethical and frivolous waste of the technology, I think, which could be better used to cure disease and restore lost wildlife and habitat.

[MonsieurHood]

Originally Posted by Big D

Creating 'novelty' monsters and bizarre mutations would be an unethical and frivolous waste of the technology, I think, which could be better used to cure disease and restore lost wildlife and habitat.

Yes, but wouldn't it be fun?

[Star Trek Viewer]

Originally Posted by MonsieurHood

Yes, but wouldn't it be fun?

Also, it's the prerogative of private money to do with itself what it will, as long as it really doesn't hurt anyone in particular or society as a whole. And I did specify that this was going to be a billionaire or trillionaire that did it. If you over-regulate society, it becomes kind of boring.

[horatio]

Originally Posted by Star Trek Viewer

And I did specify that this was going to be a billionaire or trillionaire that did it.

There would be a lot wrong about the hypothetical actions of a modern Dr.Frankenstein, but I get your point. If Jane Doe does it, it is wrong but if Scrooge McDuck does it, it is OK ...

[Star Trek Viewer]

Originally Posted by horatio

There would be a lot wrong about the hypothetical actions of a modern Dr.Frankenstein, but I get your point. If Jane Doe does it, it is wrong but if Scrooge McDuck does it, it is OK ...

But nay, I say: If Jane Doe has the money, why not?

[FranCat]

If we could make Dragons such as those in Anne McCaffrey's Pern series, then I am all for it!! Intelligent, maybe telepathic, and capable of teleportation; with proper training, and Human partners, they could carry freight and/or passengers, without any pollution of the atmoshpere. They would not NEED to breathe fire, but I think we could figure out that part, if there seemed to be a need for it.

I also agree that pterodactyls and dinosaurs are not the same...but I do beleive they were related.