Ellen Goodman

Scientists are using advanced biotechnology to clone endangered species while at the same time people are destroying the animals’ habitats, claims Ellen Goodman in the following viewpoint. Using biotechnology to save endangered species is admirable, Goodman grants, but she questions the point of cloning threatened animals when their native habitats are disappearing. Goodman argues that those concerned about endangered species should look beyond the individual animal and focus on preserving habitats and animal communities. Goodman, a syndicated columnist, is associate editor at the Boston Globe.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In Goodman’s opinion, what other biotech procedures besides cloning have been used to save endangered species?
2. What does Goodman claim is the stunning gap in the environmental behavior of our own species?
3. According to Goodman, what larger...