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UK Moves To Allow Human Hybrid Experiments

penguin_dance writes "The UK is apparently rethinking its ban on human hybrid experiments. If approved by regulators, '[t]he move opens the door to experiments involving every known kind of human-animal hybrid. These could include both "cytoplasmic" embryos, which are 99.9% human, and "true hybrids" carrying both human and animal genes.' Previous calls for an outright ban on all human-animal embryos outraged scientists, according to the article, who believe that 'work on human-animal hybrid embryos will greatly speed up progress in stem cell research.' The report claims there will be a provision for regulation of the research to incorporate any 'unforeseen developments.' Let the Island of Dr. Moreau comparisons begin!"

3 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Transhuman critters for all? by AHuxley · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Reminds me of Patricia Piccinini, an Australian artist who made a a set of sculptures called "The Young Family".
    http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/31/Patricia_Piccinini/249/

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  2. Re:Hybrids by qc_dk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    >But allowing a human hybrid to come to term (If possible) I am against.

    I will never understand that point of view. If that being is secured a place in a good family (as pet or child), then what is the ethical problem?
    Why is it more moral for a child to be created by rape? A crack whores illicit child? A drunken chance encounter? a one night stand?

    What is it people abhor so much about a child or a new species created on purpose?

  3. Hello, I'm a human/animal hybrid... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...since 60% of my genes are the same of those of a drosophila (fruit flies). BTW I also share 90% of my genes with mouses, not to mention that 98% with chimpanzees. I also have 30% of the genes of yeast, which makes of me a human/fungi hybrid I guess.

    No really, people using terms like "human/animal hybrid" or "chimera" when talking about DNA modifications are probably trying to scandalise more than inform.