Mice Created With Human Brain Cells

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tuesday December 13, 2005 @12:29AM from the what-exactly-is-the-yuck-factor dept.

pin_gween writes "Scientists have added 100,000 human brain cells to mice in an effort to create realistic models of disorders like Parkinson's Disease. Although mice are 97.5 percent genetically identical to humans and it sounds like a large number, 100,000 only represents 0.1% of the number of cells in mice brains. FTA: 'It's true that there is a huge amount of similarity, but the differences are huge,' Snyder said. 'You will never ever have a little human trapped inside a mouse or monkey's body. [...] Researchers are nevertheless beginning to bump up against what bioethicists call the "yuck factor." 'The worry is if you humanize them too much you cross certain boundaries,' said David Magnus, director of the Stanford Medical Center for Biomedical Ethics. 'But I don't think this research comes even close to that.'"

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poor humans by cycledance · 2005-12-13 00:36 · Score: -1, Flamebait

and we can do that to the mice because...?
Re:fp by Anonymous Coward · 2005-12-13 00:42 · Score: -1, Flamebait

Scientists have added 100,000 human brain cells to mice

That are 10,000 complete Apple-user brains!
Re:97.5% genetically identical - ah yes, but by OneSmartFellow · 2005-12-13 00:56 · Score: 0, Flamebait

We are virtually identical to mice in every detail but stature.
God is in the detail
Re:97.5% genetically identical - ah yes, but by dsgitl · 2005-12-13 03:05 · Score: -1, Flamebait

So it's fair to say that God is in my ass?

Just saying...