13 Jun 07
"Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. In Minnesota [2004] researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies. Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University's Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California has already created mice with brains that are about one percent human."
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0125_050125_chimeras_2.html
"Scientists have created the world's first human-sheep chimera - which has the body of a sheep and half-human organs."
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=444436&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source
The intention is to create human organs in animals that can be transplanted in humans, saving lives. What are your thoughts? Is the creation of chimeras moral?
13 Jun 07
3 edits
Originally posted by YugaWell... the intent is seems moral at face value- they want to produce organs for transplantation to cure the sick or injured.
"Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. In Minnesota [2004] researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies. Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University's Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California has already created ted in humans, saving lives. What are your thoughts? Is the creation of chimeras moral?
My only question is whether the technology will start having immoral applications in the future.
When someone decides to start crossing human cells with ant muscle cells to create super-human muscle transplants, I become concerned. And it's not without precedent - after all, if we augment our bodies with breast implants, liposuction and plastic injections, it's only a small step to bow to human breast cells crossed with cow mammarys for the extra large boob.
13 Jun 07
Originally posted by YugaIs there any concern with disease creation using this technology?
"Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. In Minnesota [2004] researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies. Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University's Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California has already created ...[text shortened]... ted in humans, saving lives. What are your thoughts? Is the creation of chimeras moral?
13 Jun 07
Originally posted by lepomisYes. The possibility exists that a virus that is harmless in animals but lethal if it would transfer to humans could do so through a hybrid species. I do not know what are the chances of an animal virus to enter the human population. This, of course, happens (for example, with influenza and HIV).
Is there any concern with disease creation using this technology?
13 Jun 07
Originally posted by joneschrwell information / technology never hert anyone untill the wrong person gets ahold of it so it will become a bad thing if it becomes to powerfull/perfected
When someone decides to start crossing human cells with ant muscle cells to create super-human muscle transplants, I become concerned. And it's not without precedent - after all, if we augment our bodies with breast implants, liposuction and plastic injections, it's only a small step to bow to human breast cells crossed with cow mammarys for the extra large boob.
13 Jun 07
Originally posted by YugaIt's possible (and probably more practical) to do xenotransplantation without human DNA being included.
"Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. In Minnesota [2004] researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies. Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University's Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California has already created ...[text shortened]... ted in humans, saving lives. What are your thoughts? Is the creation of chimeras moral?
What can potentially be done is to knock out a few of an animal's MHC genes and you have something that your immune system won't even notice - much quicker than having your own tailor-made animal.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/497828 is probably more exciting.
13 Jun 07
Originally posted by YugaThis is all old hat: H.G. Wells predicted this many years ago in his prophetic novel, "The Island of Dr. Moreau." Meanwhile, the Democrats and socialists have been reducing men to animals for years by fostering a dependence upon government and discouragement of self-sufficiency.
"Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. In Minnesota [2004] researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies. Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University's Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California has already created ...[text shortened]... ted in humans, saving lives. What are your thoughts? Is the creation of chimeras moral?