Human-Animal Hybrids Created In Secret In Englad

    
     Scientists have created more than 150 human-animal hybrid embryos in British laboratories.
The hybrids have been produced secretively over the past three years by researchers looking into possible cures for a wide range of diseases. The revelation comes just a day after a committee of scientists warned of a nightmare ‘Planet of the Apes’ scenario in which work on human-animal creations goes too far.
I am disgusted, as everyone should be, that, for three years, scientists were dabbling in the grotesque.
     155 ‘admixed’ embryos, containing both human and animal genetic material, have been created since the introduction of the 2008 Human Fertilisation Embryology Act. This legalised the creation of a variety of hybrids, including an animal egg fertilised by a human sperm; ‘cybrids’, in which a human nucleus is implanted into an animal cell; and ‘chimeras’, in which human cells are mixed with animal embryos. Scientists say the techniques can be used to develop embryonic stem cells which can be used to treat a range of incurable illnesses.
     Three labs in the UK – at King’s College London, Newcastle University and Warwick University – were granted licences to carry out the research after the Act came into force. All have now stopped creating hybrid embryos due to a lack of funding, but scientists believe that there will be more such work in the future. I am willing to bet, now that the story is out, someone will give them the funding they need to continue their Frankenstein experiments. What makes the English Parliament think that it is ok to allow this activity, which is dabbling where no man should dabble. This is straight out of a horror movie.
     It was argued in Parliment last night, by Lord Alton, against the creation of human- animal hybrids as a matter of principle. None of the scientists who appeared before Parliament could give any justification in terms of treatment. Ethically it can never be justifiable – it discredits us as a country. It is dabbling in the grotesque. At every stage the justification from scientists has been: if only you allow us to do this, we will find cures for every illness known to mankind. This is emotional blackmail.
     Of the 80 treatments and cures which have come about from stem cells, all have come from adult stem cells – not embryonic ones. On moral and ethical grounds this fails; and on scientific and medical ones too.
Why have they kept this a secret? If they are proud of what they are doing, why do we need to ask Parliamentary questions for this to come to light? The problem with many scientists is that they want to do things because they want to experiment. That is not a good enough rationale.
Earlier this week, a group of leading scientists warned about ‘Planet of the Apes’ experiments. They called for new rules to prevent lab animals being given human attributes, for example by injecting human stem cells into the brains of primates.
     But the lead author of their report,  Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, from the Medical Research Council’ s National Institute for Medical Research, said the scientists were not concerned about human-animal hybrid embryos because by law these have to be destroyed within 14 days. He said: ‘The reason for doing these experiments is to understand more about early human development and come up with ways of curing serious diseases, and as a scientist I feel there is a moral imperative to pursue this research. ‘As long as we have sufficient controls – as we do in this country – we should be proud of the research.’
      This man should be imprisoned along with the people performing these experiments. If they are required to destroy these creations after 14 days, we all know, there is one of these scientists with one of the un-natural beasts growing in a lab somewhere.
     However, he called for stricter controls on another type of embryo research, in which animal embryos are implanted with a small amount of human genetic material. Human-animal hybrids are also created in other countries, many of which have little or no regulation.
     Who is to say that these other countries, without regulations, aren't creating creatures that are un-natural. What happens if these get into the public? What could this lead to? A real Planet of the Apes? I just find this WRONG in so many ways....They are playing God.
Here are a few of the experiments that are being considered of useful to the human race:

• Mice modified to carry human genes are widely used to study diseases including cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and anxiety.
• Goats created with a human gene are used to produce a human protein that treats blood clotting disorders.
• Mice implanted with pieces of human tumours are used to test cancer drugs.
• Rat brains are injected with human stem cells to study how the brain deals with stroke damage.
• Researchers add human cells to mice immune systems or livers to study hepatits.

     Today’s report says that most of these experiments raise no ethical or legal concerns. But it argues that the fast pace of science means researchers could create  ‘animals containing human material that approach ethical or regulatory boundaries’, and calls for a new body of experts within the Home Office to monitor the experiments. It also demands some research is banned outright, including injecting human stem cells into the brains of primates if it ‘engenders human-like behaviour’. That would prevent scientists creating apes with human-like memories or the ability to speak.

     The warnings have echoes of the new movie Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, in which scientists searching for an Alzheimer’s cure create a new breed of ape with human-like intelligence. The fear is that if you start putting very large numbers of human brain cells into the brains of primates suddenly you might transform the primate into something that has some of the capacities that we regard as distinctively human – speech, or other ways of being able to manipulate or relate to us. These possibilities that are at the moment largely explored in fiction,  we need to start thinking about now.