Until just recently, cloning had been limited to producing clones with cells from living animals. According to a recent CNN article, however, scientists in Japan have successfully made clones of mice that have been dead for over 16 years. The article claimed this new development brings hope to those who may want to clone extinct species.

If you’re thinking what we thought when we read this, Jurassic Park all the way. On a side-note, we found it slightly ironic that this type of discovery would be published within a week of the sad passing of the Jurassic Park author, Michael Crichton.

Moral issues stemming from this new breakthrough may halt the bringing of extinct species back into the life cycle, as Crichton speculated may happen in his films, but we’d like to know, what would you bring back from extinction now that the option is more viable than ever?

As long as we’re on the Jurassic tangent, our first bid for non-extinction is the pterodactyl. Imagine the great new company American Airlines passenger jets would hold 20,000 feet in the air.

The woolly mammoth may be a worthwhile prehistoric creature to bring back as well. Perhaps we could use their fur for a new line of warm clothing products. Hopefully their fur will be a less itchy version of the wool we’ll be wrapping ourselves in with the coming blizzards.

Maybe we’d bring back the dodo bird, extinct since the 17th century. Seeing as the bird went extinct because of humans, their new round of existence could be one of luxury as apology for our jerk tactics that killed them all off.

Or what about the giant anacondas that starred in the movie that started Jennifer Lopez’s unfortunate career in acting. Were those ever even alive, let alone extinct? We’d like to think so. It would give Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin a new venture for us to spend our time watching.

But who ever said this round of non-extinction was limited to species? Perhaps certain individuals, now deceased, would be worthwhile to bring back …

You’re right. Too far. We won’t mention the certain exquisite actor we’d like to see back in the gene pool — and perhaps in another Batman sequel.