Ricard Solé
ICREA research professor responsible for the Complex Systems Laboratory at Pompeu Fabra University and the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-IBE) and researcher at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico (United States)
"It is important work because the 21st century is (among other things) the century in which modifying living systems is already a reality and, at the same time, we are faced with diseases and ecological problems that have not yet been solved. These include the pathogens or invasive species mentioned in the article. When humans are the target species, the idea of deliberate extinction seems reasonable".
Is this a good article?
"It is certainly important to discuss the issue, and I think it considers all angles".
How does it address the opportunities and problems of these techniques?
"The problem is clearly interdisciplinary: it affects aspects and scales ranging from genetic engineering to ecology to ethical dilemmas".
Are there any important limitations to consider?
"Perhaps it does not take into account some lessons from the past that have to do with the effects of human-caused extinctions throughout recent history. One example would be the disappearance of the passenger pigeon in the United States, which was the most abundant bird in the country (with millions of individuals) and was hunted to complete extinction. Although its disappearance led to some changes in ecosystems, these were offset by other species that filled the gap left by the extinct species".