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Singapore researchers support human/animal chimeras
Scientists in Singapore are advocating new rules that would permit researchers to splice human DNA into animals to further stem cell research. The development of human/animal chimeras would allow research projects that would, for example, splice human cells into the brains of mice in order to test a new generation of therapies for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
The notion of chimeras has raised protests around the world. In the UK, lawmakers are considering a similar approach. But Singapore's Professor Lim Pin, chairman of the Bioethics Advisory Committee, notes that there would be strict limits on the animal combinations. "Even if possible, it would be ethically unacceptable for scientists to create subhuman creatures with potentially human consciousness," Lim said.
- read the report from Monsters and Critics
ALSO: Singapore plans to intensify it's focus on immunology research. Report
Related Articles:
U.K. approves 'cybrids' for stem cell research. Report
Human/animal chimeras get a reprieve in the U.K. Report
Scientists create chimera. Report
Comments
I'm not about to play judge on the right and wrong of human animal chimera research. But I will stand firm that once anything that is part human has been bought into this world, it is wrong to terminate it for any reason. To deliberately kill anything human or even part human is murder. What was developed in that laboratory is partly one of us. I noticed an image of an artwork depicting a human/dog chimera with puppies. From what I felt from seeing that image, If those were real creatures, and you were to kill them, you would be killing dog and pups, and in the same act you would also kill a human mother and her three babies.
As a born again christian, I can't help to consider the issue of a creature like that having an eternal soul. If they do, I realize that the sheep chimeras developed in China with only 15% human in them will most likely die unaccountable. However, if a 75% or 87.5% human chimera existed someday who is of human intelligence, can communicate with us and can understand issues, I would certaintly want an oppertunity to sit down with someone who is that much of mankind,with an opened Bible and talk to him (or her) for a while. I'm almost sure no one else will care because they don't look like us. After all, being man comes with a debt of sin. I would like to take this time remind you who read this, you definatly
have a soul, and there is a Heaven or Hell choice every human must make (who is intelligent enough to do so) if you expect to make it to Heaven some day. Here's sobering thought...153,000 of us die around the world every day. No one needs to go to Hell for eternity, be he part human or those of us who are 100% human.
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