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Art imitating life? Sculpture by artist Patricia Piccinini CLICK ON PIC TO ENLARGE
Leading experts are to look at whether limits should be placed on research involving animals containing human tissue and DNA.
~London Telegraph
The Academy of Medical Sciences working group will examine the ethical implications of animal/human hybrids and public attitudes to the science.
Many thousands of animals have already been created containing human cells or DNA, mostly genetically engineered mice.
But new technologies are taking the research to areas many people find disturbing.
One of the most controversial is the creation of embryos containing human DNA derived from animal eggs.
Scientists believe the hybrid embryos will be an invaluable source of stem cells that can be used to study and treat human diseases.
Other examples of ”humanised” animals include rhesus macaque monkeys carrying the gene for Huntington’s disease, and mice with human-like livers which can be used to study the effects of new drugs.
Professor Martin Bobrow, who is chairing the working group, said: ”The call for this study originates from within the scientific community itself and is supported by parliamentarians. It is important to ensure that this exciting research can progress within limits that scientists, the Government and the public support.
”We will not only be focusing on the ethical dimensions of this research but also on how it is perceived by the public. Do these constructs challenge our idea of what it is to be human? It is important that we consider these questions now so that appropriate boundaries are recognised and research is able to fulfil its potential.”
He said more consideration needed to be given to the combined effects of different laws and regulations governing the research.
”Our study will be an important step in developing guidance on how different entities along the human/animal spectrum are treated for the purpose of law and regulation in the future,” he added.
One aim of the project will be to agree definitions for animals and animal embryos containing human genes or cells.
The experts will also predict future research directions, address safety and animal welfare issues, and evaluate the legal framework scientists have to work within.
A report containing recommendations will be published after the end of the study which is expected to last 12 to 18 months.
This is sickening.
Scientists always wanted toplay GOD, and politicians always prefer to be kings or dictators. Only evil has remained the same. EVIL doesn’t like to pretend to be something else. It is so SAD. We don’t evolve, we devolve, if such a word exists. We have not progressed, we have simply failed. And EVIL has been pushing and pointing us in that direction.
They should slice Nancy Pelosi’s genes with a parasite, oh that is right, they did years ago. Problem is they also spliced the genes of the American sheeple with the lemming.