In an online session of the Russian Geographical Society (RGO) in April, Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, suggested cloning a group of 3,000-year-old Scythian warriors lying in the permafrost in Siberia’s tundra.
According to Sputnik News, Shoigu is familiar with the Siberian site, adding: “We have conducted several expeditions there already; it is a big international expedition. A lot of things have been confirmed, but a lot remains to be done.” Regarding the ancient DNA, Shoigu told the RGO that “it would be possible to make something of it, if not Dolly the Sheep. In general, it will be very interesting.”
While Shoigu didn’t explicitly say the country would be bringing back to life the ancient Scythian warriors, the hint was there.
Who Were The Scythian Warriors?
The Scythian people, who are believed to have their origins from northern Mongolia to Iran, were nomadic warriors who traveled around Eurasia between the 9th and 2nd centuries B.C. During this time, they built a powerful empire that endured for several centuries before competitors phased it out.
Twenty years ago, archaeologists uncovered the remains of these warriors in a burial mound in the Tuva region of Siberia, where the army of potential clones lies well-preserved.
Given Tuva’s position in southern Siberia, most of it is permafrost. This means the grounds remain frozen, and therefore, anything in the permafrost (including the remains) stays in pristine condition, preserving biological matter remarkably well.
Is It Possible To Clone A Human?
Besides being illegal and technically challenging, there are various ethical and moral concerns regarding human cloning. The National Human Genome Research Institute confirms that “human cloning still appears to be fiction.”
Scientists from the Fung Institute of the University of California, Berkeley, clarify a common misunderstanding concerning cloning. While most people think that a human clone would come out as an exact replica of that original person, this is not the reality. The clone may physically look identical, but its personality wouldn’t be the same. A person’s personality is shaped by the environment in which they grew up and the experiences they’ve had.
On the other hand, cloning of animals is already taking place. For example, scientists cloned an endangered Przewalski’s horse from 40-year-old material last year, and an endangered black-footed ferret was cloned from 30-year-old cells earlier this year. However, these complex procedures were carried out to try and save endangered species and required massive amounts of trial and error.
Even if it were legal to clone humans, there are several factors to consider. Some of these include scientists would have to carefully monitor the cloned baby version of a deceased adult warrior for any diseases and other prosaic problems. Also, who would raise and be responsible for the wellbeing of these children?
While Shoigu envisions a future race of highly skilled fighters, only time (and nature versus nurture) will tell if Russia will accomplish this goal.
