A future envisioned by the author Michael Crichton, one where supposedly extinct dinosaurs are very much alive and well and roaming in thematic parks, may not be that far a stretch. I am referring to, of course, the fantasy world of Jurassic Park where genetically recreated dinosaur species run rampant in a human created preservation. With current limits on our technology, however, this concept is still relegated to the realms of science fiction.

Yet, with advancements in an international scientific research undertaking known as The Human Genome Project, the basic building blocks of life have long since been discovered. The five main nucleotide bases (those being adamine, thymine, cytosine, guanine and uracil) are found in DNA and RNA and are essentially the foundation of life as we know it. Furthermore, advances in embryonic research have led to advanced techniques of cloning. With existing genetic modification and cloning technologies we have: successfully cloned a sheep (think: Dolly); created an entire new race of rats known as such as the oncomouse (cancer mouse) for research; bioengineered crops to be more resistant to diseases and created sweeter watermelons; and modified rats and cats to have glow-in-the-dark noses and ears among many other astounding applications of our current technology.

The implications of advancements in these two fields can have many positive ramifications on society. It is plausible to think that we can create a future where species are no longer in threat of becoming extinct. Already, there exists a “Frozen Zoo” at the San Diego Zoo which now stores frozen tissue from the world’s rarest and most endangered species. Furthermore, there have already been attempts at cloning long since extinct animals such as the Wooly Mammoth, the Tazmanian Tiger, and the Pyrenean Ibix. Though these attempts have largely been failures, we are inching ever closer to success.

With the rate that these technologies are rapidly increasing, and with a broadening of our own scientific knowledge, one can even imagine a world where not only existing species can be cloned and/or modified, but that entirely new species can be created altogether. DNA can be compared to code such as Java or C++, so it is not that much of a stretch to consider that with even more advances in the future this “program of life” can be modified to our own liking. Imagine a world where you would no longer have to play Final Fantasy in order to breed chocobos, and raising ranches full of golden chocobos would be possible simply by tinkering with the basic code. The dream of many gamers of racing chocobos in real life may eventually be realized.