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Stem Cell Researchers Can Now Combine Animal and Human Embryos In The US (sciencemag.org)
Slashdot reader sciencehabit quotes an article from Science magazine: The National Institutes of Health announced that the agency soon expects to lift a moratorium on funding for controversial experiments that add human stem cells to animal embryos, creating an organism that is part animal, part human. Instead, these so-called chimera studies will undergo an extra layer of ethical review but may ultimately be allowed to proceed.
Although scientists who support such research welcomed the move, some were left trying to parse exactly what the draft policy will mean. It is "a step in the right direction," says Sean Wu, a stem cell researcher at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, who co-authored a letter to Science last year opposing the moratorium. But "we still don't know what the outcome will be case by case," he adds. However, some see the proposal as opening up research in some areas that had been potentially off-limits.
Experiments could include using animals to grow human organs for transplants, although according to the article, some scientists "worry that the experiments could produce, say, a supersmart mouse."
Although scientists who support such research welcomed the move, some were left trying to parse exactly what the draft policy will mean. It is "a step in the right direction," says Sean Wu, a stem cell researcher at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, who co-authored a letter to Science last year opposing the moratorium. But "we still don't know what the outcome will be case by case," he adds. However, some see the proposal as opening up research in some areas that had been potentially off-limits.
Experiments could include using animals to grow human organs for transplants, although according to the article, some scientists "worry that the experiments could produce, say, a supersmart mouse."
... human overlords.
Sent from my ENIAC
Something that will piss off the right (because of embryonic stem cell research) and the left. (Because of animal/human hybrids.) The left and right will finally agree on something.
Did you know 80 to 90% of the moderators on slashdot wouldn't recognize a troll even if one dragged them under a bridge.
some scientists "worry that the experiments could produce, say, a supersmart mouse." Fears are unfounded assuming super smart rat population is allowed to keep the super smart mouse population in check.
Ah, so this is how we get all those mice that advance quantum physics for us.
The National Institutes of Drumpf announced that the agency soon expects to lift a moratorium on funding for controversial experiments that add human stem cells to drumpf embryos, creating an organism that is part drumpf, part human. Instead, these so-called chimera studies will undergo an extra layer of ethical review but may ultimately be allowed to proceed.
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
I suggest anyone who opposes this research be sent to meet a few people on organ waiting lists. Let them tell those patients why they must be allowed to die.
I want my monkey man!
As an atheist I treat all religions equally and this does present some rather profound religious challenges. Specifically when a person had a donated organ in them that was grown in an animal that conflicts with their belief system...such as a pig, pig DNA even in the smallest amounts would still exist.
Now if a portion of a pig is in a person can that person still be Jewish or Muslim? how about an organ grown in a cow if a person is Hindu? -Now before you label me a troll just hold your horses and hear me out.
There are plenty of crack-pot beliefs out there preventing people from getting life saving medical operations. From supposed hyper-sensitivity to wireless signals to the whole nonsense with the MMR vaccine allegedly causing autism.
So assuming the religious community decides you cannot be jewish/muslim if you have an organ in you that was grown in a pig; and say for arguments sake the legal guardians are religious, and their child is under-aged but wants to live via organ donation from whatever animal conflicts with their belief system, would the government step-in for the benefit of the individual being saved? Should it?
Would denying such people on the grounds of religion be considered a hate crime? As denial of such a procedure may be a death sentence.
A 'singular oddity' is an event that cannot be explained and only happens when you are alone.
Whats next Bird-Finch hybrids?
God knows we could use some smarter mice.
Will the "supersmart mouse" be smarter than a human? If no, how would it be dangerous? If so, wouldn't that be a potentially useful thing to have around?
If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
Everyone knows the solution to a super smart Mouse is to give him a counterpart which always inadvertently ruins his plans to take over the world..... Also, that counterpart must always provide a different perspective on what the super smart mouse might be thinking at any moment.
Since when are humans not animals?
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Dude, you complain about these guys playing god and you're trying to freakin' grow puppies? That's not how dogs work, man!
There you go. (SFW?)
A human, animal combo just might explain Trump. I suppose a rat or weasel would be the animal component.
That was so funny I slapped your mom.
it's finally happening!
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
Cursed panties of Torajima?