WILL WOOLLY MAMMOTHS SOON BE CLONED?

WILL WOOLLY MAMMOTHS SOON BE CLONED?

BETHESDA, Maryland (Wireless Flash) -- Here's an idea that's wild and woolly: scientists are preparing to excavate a frozen-but- still-intact woolly mammoth later this summer. Scientists involved in the expedition are already considering cloning the hairy beast using "Jurassic Park"-like technology. The mammoth expedition -- which is being financed by the Discovery Channel for an upcoming documentary -- will take researchers to a remote part of Siberia to unearth the hairy creature, which is located under 15 feet of concrete-like permafrost. Although scientists think the frozen pachyderm is completely intact, no one will know until the beast is finally dug up -- a process that should take about six weeks. A Discovery Channel spokesperson won't confirm whether the creature will indeed be cloned but admits "the idea has been bandied about."

CONTACT: David Merrill (press contact); Bethesda, MD; (301) 771- 5885