Could Dinosaurs Ever Come Back in the Future?
Science is ever-evolving as we continue to develop new technology to study the current and prehistoric DNA of various reptiles and birds. Science fiction movies and books make it seem as if we’ve reached the point where we could take a dinosaur’s genetic material and use it to bring these creatures back to life. Some of us may also wonder if dinosaurs could ever come back in the future through other means, such as cloning or genetic engineering.
Let’s explore whether dinosaurs could ever become commonplace on our planet again.
Could Dinosaurs Return?
While seeing a huge, living dinosaur could be both exciting and terrifying, it’s highly unlikely to ever happen, even with genetic engineering. Species evolve to increase their chances of survival, and because all dinosaurs either died off or evolved, it’s unlikely they’d survive in today’s world.
Moreover, Earth’s atmosphere was different during the Mesozoic Era as it had higher CO2 levels, and overall temperatures were much warmer than today. These changes in the atmosphere and climate would directly affect the dinosaur’s living conditions. Since the Earth is not the same as it was when they lived, they may have a lower quality of life or fail to survive.
The Problem of Size
When wondering whether dinosaurs could ever come back in the future, it’s also important to note that the sheer size of many dinosaurs would also work against them. Larger animals require more food, which, depending on the scarcity of resources, could lead to some species starving.
For instance, herbivores such as Triceratops would have to eat several tons of vegetation on a regular basis. The problem is that there are already numerous herbivores doing this, and there’s limited space since creating cities requires clearing large plots of land.
If many herbivores, dinosaurs, and other animals compete for the same resource, it will be harder for them all to survive. As plant-eating animals die off, the equally competitive food sources for carnivores and modern omnivores shrinks.
The Ethics Dilemma
Even if scientists found a way to bring dinosaurs back to life, they would be left with the question of whether they should. Resurrecting an extinct species would disrupt current ecological systems in the same way that an invasive species does; they’d eat food that animals already existing in the area rely on, which disrupts the food chain.
Without proper checks, bringing back dinosaurs could lead to the extinction of other animals. This can become further problematic because the extinction of one species will impact its predators and prey, therefore impacting many of the animals living in the area.
Get Dinosaurs in Your Home
Creative Beast Studio has Beasts of the Mesozoic figures that are perfect for any collector. While science cannot officially resurrect these beasts, you can still have them in your home in the form of these detailed and realistic figures.
