License to Mix Human/Animal Genes in Cloning
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
January 17, 2008 11:34pm CST
I saw an article on the ABC News site that said the UK researchers have been granted 2 licenses to conduct cloning experiments using mixed human and animal genes. I thought that this type of situation was what all the fuss was about when the technology first became available. They note that ony about 1% will be from animals, while the other 99% will be human. Does this make it any more acceptable? I don't think so. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Who's going to oversee these projects to make sure the guidelines will be strictly followed? What if some Mad Scientist decides that he wants to use 50% of each? There are a lot of questions here that should be asked by all of us. What is your opinion?
7 people like this
6 responses
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
19 Jan 08
I don't think it makes it more acceptable. I wish they wouldn't even do it at all. I don't trust the government and the scientists these days for nothing. We have had too many bad problems recently to make me think this. I think they are messing with and advancing technology way too mnuch and way to fast.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
19 Jan 08
I believe, stephcjh, that they are already doing these kinds of experiments and are only going public with the license thing because it's already a done deal.
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
18 Jan 08
My first question would be WHY?? Do they think that humans are so imperfect that we need animal genes? I think it is immoral and wrong and if it did work, possibly even horrible, because who knows what that 1% can do to that person, maybe nothing at first, but sooner or later, something may go wrong..
Plain and simple, it's not right!!
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
18 Jan 08
I'm thinking, carmelanirel, that someone very powerful must be behind this scheme because I cannot fathom reasonable, serious-minded people making such a decision.
2 people like this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
19 Jan 08
i not comfortable with the notion of being mixed with the animals even with a small percentage only..i believe human being is sacred and besides as what you have cited what if some likes to experiment more without the knowledge of the majority? it may cost more than what expected..
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
19 Jan 08
I agree with you, vanities, and there should be a very audible outcry against this venture.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Jan 08
You should not mix even 1/1000 percentage of human genes with animal genes. Even that small percentage would make disease common with one species jump over to the other species. It is monstrous and the least you can call it is they are playing God. And once you open the door, some crazy scientist will become the next Doctor Moreau and credit animal-human hybrids, that is creatures without souls for transplants, experiments, and other things.
And what about food, if a scientist mixes one/1000 part of human gene in a cow for instance, because the gene prevents heart disease,and that cow was feed animal product mixed with the grain, is there not an increased risk of mad cow disease?
No do not even think of mixing human and animal genes.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
18 Jan 08
What I am thinking, suspenseful, is "Where is the outcry from around the world in opposition to this ludicrous idea?"
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
19 Jan 08
Yes, CocHawk, the ramifications of such a dangerous experiment are terrible.
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
20 Jan 08
Unfortionately, the genie is out of the bag, and even if this mixed human/animal gene stuff was made illegal in every nation on Earth you can bet there would be some under ground lab somewhere creating some sort of zoological Frankenstein Chimera monster from ....!
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Pandora's box is now open, it will never again be shut. We just have to live with the ethical brambles that entangle us on occasion as creations like Dolly the Sheep pop up to confront us.
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Science is used to create much that is good. The flip side is the outright horror that can hide in a test tube. It can disturb my sleep on occasion. I can only hope that the thin line of ethics prevents the monsters from becoming real.
