Well, this research was not done here, it was Denmark. This type of research is not necessarily “playground” stuff either. This could lead to extraction and characterization of extremely ancient human DNA as well. Being able to track, characterize and understand changes and mutations in a species genome across the span of history can lead to insights that could identify reasons for certain diseases and lethal mutations in humans today and possibly provide a path for correcting those problems and/or curing some diseases. Basic research is the groundwork for more specific and useful research and breakthroughs.
“Basic research is the groundwork for more specific and useful research and breakthroughs.”
Understand your thoughts, fully. I have a basic science PhD in molecular biology, and an MD. But it’s impossible to refute your argument except to say one can always claim every seemingly trivial or esoteric discovery could change the world. But 99% won’t. Your argument cannot justify unlimited funding for very average ideas and scientists. There has to be a limit.
Could, maybe, might ... what makes anyone think we’re going to be around the hundreds of years (from now) when it all MAY come to fruition ?