British stem cell scientists celebrated the end of a lengthy battle to create embryos which are part-human and part-animal yesterday after the research was approved by the government’s fertility watchdog.
The decision to allow “cytoplasmic hybrid” or cybrid embryos, by inserting human DNA into an empty animal egg, followed a three-month public consultation which found participants were broadly in favour of the research.
By using animal eggs, researchers will be able to press ahead with stem cell research without having to rely on scarce supplies of human eggs. Under existing law, the embryos cannot be implanted into a womb and must be destroyed after 14 days, when they are a ball of cells no bigger than a pinhead.
The research has been heavily opposed by anti-abortion and religious groups.
The leading pinheads should get the credit they deserve.
This strikes me as a very bad idea, with unknowable consequences, given our current lack of understanding in the field of development. If I get an organ grown from a cow egg, will I get a taste for grass?
I’m sure the Furries will love it, though. 😛
Furry jokes aside (considering my name) this still came too late to save superman from death…
and i don’t really think you can consider it “grown” from the animal, its just some stem cells.
paging dr. moreau, paging dr. moreau, white courtesy telephone, please
“The research has been heavily opposed by anti-abortion and religious groups.”
Ayup, until they have a child crippled by disease/accident.
I, for one, welcome our new Manimal overlords…
The DNA is all human. Get over it folks.
#1 I’m sure you won’t get a taste for grass. Now taking a shit anywhere you please is a different matter.
Fantastic! Nice to know that for once the majority opinion in the UK prevails! Old Mr. Tony Blair seemed to be more interested in white his loony-right wing American campaign advisor’s thought…. maybe our new Prime Minister will start paying attention to the British public (okay, unlikely I know….)
#5 – The DNA is all human. Get over it folks.
Jeez Scott… It’s fun to imagine the glorious future of human/animal hybrids… and all the potential for gladiator combat…
I’m sure there’s a few readers here that could start a CrankyGeeks team for Folding @ Home?
You know, for other, types, of research…
Hey where do you guys think Wookies came from.
Being from the UK I like that the government admitted that this was a fast moving field that they had little knowledge of and moved regulating to a panel of experts.
That panel has kept the UK at the forefront of this field whilst ethically limiting what they can do and keeping most of the British public in favour of the research, it’s been a complete win-win.
#8 – OFTLO,
Do you like to watch movies about gladiators? — Airplane (Airplane 2?).
#10, Scott, “Joey, have you ever been to a Turkish prison?”
Which is where US scientists will end up if they’re not careful. Nothing like blasphemous research that could help us all to get you into trouble…
#11 – Lighten up… No one here actually believes they are making an army of GoatMen…
Though we all wish they were 🙂
#4 – MANIMAL !?!?!? I worked really hard to forget that. Damn you….
#13 – OFTLO,
Dr. Klahn is building an army of extraordinary magnitude. We forge our spirits in the traditions of our ancestors. Dr. Klahn has our gratitude.
Or was it, we forge our spirits in the traditions of our goats?
#17 – That makes no sense at all.
They’re experimenting with using empty animal eggs and human DNA…
Who cares? They’re seeing if it’s viable or not, and if it fails, it fails. If it succeeds, then maybe there will be yet another means to study specific diseases that yet not have a cure?
Don’t be so scared of something you don’t know anything about.
#18 – Oh Good Christ… We know EVERYTHING about it!
Hopefully this new avenue of research will enable us to finally isolate and eliminate the gene that causes humorlessness and pop culture illiteracy…
And just you don’t think I’m being mean, here’s a freaking smiley! 🙂
#15….OFTLO…..I was hoping for an army of Goatwomen. 🙂
#20 – I always knew you had some freaky kinks wrapped up inside of you 🙂
#6, I understand that the DNA is all human, but the cellular proteins, and mitochondria are not. Human mitochondria are rather different from other mammals, and that one change could produce unknowable metabolic effects.
#22 – and that one change could produce unknowable metabolic effects.
Like the growing of hair and fangs under a full moon, or the ability to breath underwater… This new race of X-Mutants will rule the Earth!
Bwahahahahahaha…
No… Really… They will… 🙂
(I refuse to let this joke die)
#18,
It was a joke, a reference to Kentucky Fried Movie. See my first post on the thread for my real opinion.
#24 – Another fan of Kentucky Fried Movie. A classic. Too bad you have to be older than dirt to remember it.
moo!!!
#25, iGW, Too bad you have to be older than dirt to remember it.
Jeez, I remember when rocks evolved from dogs. Now you’ve really done it — somebody’s gonna have to go back and get a sh*tload of dimes….
#25 – iGW,
Too bad you have to be older than dirt to remember it.
I resemble that remark. I saw it as a double feature with Tunnel Vision (the no bullshit network) in a really divey old theater.
Getting back on topic (sort-of): What would happen if Manimal ate some Manwich?
#29 – OH MAN! That’s just fucking gross…
I’m never posting here again!
#31
Quit being a tease….or fishing for a compliment?