UK Approves Human-Pig Embryo Stem-Cell Harvest

An anonymous reader writes "British biologists have received government approval to create the world's first human stem cells from hybrid embryos, part pig, part human. The Warwick Medical School team, led by Justin St. John of the Clinical Sciences Research Institute, was granted the country's third animal-human embryo license from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which goes into effect today (July 1)." The above link requires (free) registration; the Telegraph's coverage does not.

Comments

As a matter of fact...

[RobertB-DC]

I *do* taste like bacon! Why do you ask?

Somewhat misleading...

[MozeeToby]

The summary seems to imply that they are creating embryos which combine genetic material from humans and pigs. The article, on the other hand, says that they are taking 100% human DNA and implanting them into pig egg cells which have had their DNA removed. I think it's safe to to say that there is a huge difference between the two ideas.

sick and wrong

[fish_in_the_c]

I do favor research into genetics and much of the medical advancement that might be made with it.

However, even the comments on this board show that people are made uncomfortable by this idea. Mostly jokes, that mask a certain discomfort from what I read.

The end result of such experimentation with human genomic material is the trivialization of the human person.

It is precisely that trivialization which has been the cause of every grossly unjust large scale act taken by human beings. The ability to see others as merely raw material to accomplish our goal is an underlying premise in the Nazi holocaust, white separatists movement, in slavery as was practiced in the American south , in the sweat shops of years past.

This kind of experimentation only re-enforces that idea, that human beings are nothing but animals, so why shouldn't they be treated like them?

It should not be allowed by any civilized nation and any nation that does allow it has already become less civilized by the very action.

It is precisely that trivilisation which has been the cause of every grossly injust large scale act taken by human beings. The ability to see others as mearly raw material to accomplish our goal is an underlying premise in the Nazi holocaust, white sepremists movement, in slavery as was practiced in the american south , in the sweat shops of years past.

This kind of experimentation only re-enforces that idea, that human beings are nothing but animals , so why shouldn't they be treated like them.

It should not be allowed by any civilized nation and any nation that does allow it has already become less civialized by the very action.