Could Genetic Clones Save Ancient Redwoods?

[The Straight Story]

Could Genetic Clones Save Ancient Redwoods?

SAN GERONIMO, CA (AP) -- A tree planter from Michigan is in northern California this week trying to realize his dream of preserving and restoring some old trees using some new cloning technology.

David Milarch assembled a team of crack tree climbers Tuesday morning who used ropes and harnesses to clamber more than 100 feet into the treetops at Roy's Redwoods Preserve in San Geronimo.

The workers clipped bits of tree from some of the preserve's oldest, tallest trees to get genetically pure samples of some of nature's ultimate survivors.

Milarch believes these trees can provide the toughest possible stock for a kind of "genetic savings account" he hopes can be used to restore old-growth redwoods in their native range up and down the state.

http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=34515

[Saphire]

1. They take hundres and hundreds of years to grow. Guess we'll never know.

[kestrel91316]

2. Why not just use their SEEDS??? You know, those handy little things

invented by Mother Nature for plant reproduction when humans aren't around to "help"......

[tjwash]

3. heh...I just had a strange vision of hundreds of identical looking little men planting trees.

nt