Human-rabbit hybrid embryos. What? Sounds pretty strange right? What about human-pig hybrid embryos? It sounded like science fiction to me, but on the news last week was a report about Britian's government approving a new stem cell research project which involves such hybrid embryos.
As we all know, the research being conducted on stem cells is designed to find a cure for disabling disease such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. The research has in the past caused an uproar, and I was among the people angered by the research - well, not the research itself, but the stradegies.
When the research was first started human embryos were created in labs for the specific purpose of having their stem cells (cells which have not yet been developed into cells specific to certain organs such as the heart or lungs) harvested. The embryo would be discarded when it was of no more use. I was and still am appaled at the idea of life being created for the purpose of being harvested and destroyed, and I think it is sickening that people would do such a thing. In DC I was told by a spokesperson for a governor backing the research that aborted fetuses and embryos were being put to use in the feild, which I am not adverse to. If the life is being thrown away, then it should at least be put to use, to have some amount of worth and impact, for every life should have the chance to have an impact. I honestly don't know how far this technique has come or how often it is used, but this I would definately be behind.
But this human-animal hybrid embryo technique...I honestly don't know how I feel about that. I'm still trying to get past the strangeness of it. The process basically involves injecting a cluster of human DNA into a hollowed out animal egg and growing stem cells. There are still many people very upset about this, some saying that any form of human life is to be cherished and not thrown away, others saying that it is unnatural and immoral. I do agree that any form of life is important and not to be discarded, but I am unsure about whether this would be or could be considered a form of human life or any form of life at all, really. And I do agree that it is unnatural and I think it is utterly bizzare, but as far as I can tell so far it is not really immoral. But at this point it seems that not a whole lot is known about this type of research and I am certaintly no expert in it, but as it developes and we know more, perhaps I'll be able to develope I clearly defined oppinion of the research.
They are calling the resulting hybrid a “cytoplastic hybrid” and say it will contain aproximately 99.9% human DNA and .1% human DNA. Just a couple little random things I learned from this article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20604490/) which wasn't in the CNN broadcast I watched last week.
Either way, whether I or anyone else thinks it wrong or right, it certaintly is interesting...
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Eww that sounded just wrong so wrong. If scientist start doing that than theres no telling what they will be able to do in the future. They just need to stop messing with nature. Eww.
I am all for stem cell research. I don't believe that it is killing human life, especially since they take the stem cells as the embroys are undifferentiated. These stem cells that are used and tested can help promote longer life for all kinds of individuals with diseases and eventually even find a cure. To limit stem cell research as Bush has done is bogus, in my opinion. There are thousands and thousands of people out there suffering from Cancer to Alzheimers to Spinal Disease.. why not try to find a cure for all those suffering?
JM
This was certainly and interesting subject matter to read about. I have been indifferent on the whole stem-cell research because I just don't really know if I believe that harvesting fetuses in hopes to help solve cancer, alzheimer's, and other diseases is wrong or not. It's so hard to tell, because the 'life' as you put it doesn't really have the chance to develop anywhere near what we would be considered a child. And it's not like they have a 'mother' or 'father' persay because they are being created in order to use the stem cells. But if it can help promote better lives and cure diseases, who's to say that it is wrong? It's not like they are using them for a shallow purpose. As to the hybrid referred to above, I would like to know why they are doing it? Is it because of the objections of people saying that they are taking human life, so they decide to make a hybrid so they could say, 'Hey, at least we're not taking human life anymore!' It seems absolutely bizarre to me.
No day but today
-RENT
I believe that they are doing it in response to a shortage of donated human eggs. That's what the article said, but the nroadcast made no mention of it.
Peace
Tahni
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"Tell me - if no one ever hears what you say, then why don't you shout it?" -- Floater
It's still bizarre! Maybe they don't have enough eggs donated because of people's views on stem-cell research? Either way it's strange and strange enough to get my attention.
No day but today
-RENT
That may be part of it, but I think mostly it has to do with the fact that's it harder for a woman to donate a eggs than it is for a man to donate sperm. That's what I would think, anyway...I guess I don't know the process or anything, so I can't say for sure. It seems like it would be, though.
Peace
Tahni
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"Tell me - if no one ever hears what you say, then why don't you shout it?" -- Floater
Wow. I'm kind of amazed at this. I agree that they should use the otherwise "wasted" embryos from invitro fertilization/abortions before making embryos in the lab, and the idea that they can make human/animal hybrid embryos is remarkable! Can those grow into full organisms? Somehow I think not, but maybe? Think of all they could do with this! Anyone who's had a family member suffer from Alzheimer's (I have) or any other degenerative disease know how important it is to research these now. The fact that the US has no stem cell research program is discouraging. We have so much to learn!