Monday, November 06, 2006

And Science Continues Its Quest

Because it is too hard to find enough human eggs to do research on stem cells, some scientists are planning to fuse human DNA with cow eggs. Perhaps the unstated goal is to make us even more herd-like. Notwithstanding such cynicism, the justification, as always, is the common good.

"UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing human DNA with cow eggs.

Researchers from Newcastle University and Kings College, London, have asked the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for a three-year licence.

The hybrid human-bovine embryos would be used for stem cell research and would not be allowed to develop for more than a few days.

But critics say it is unethical and potentially dangerous.

Stem cell research is one of the most promising areas of medical science.

They are the body's master cells and five-day-old embryos are packed with them - each with the potential to turn into any tissue in the body.

It is this ability which scientists want to harness to treat diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, strokes and Alzheimer's Disease.

To do that, they need to have access to thousands of embryos for research."


BBC Story

The result will be, technically speaking, a chimera. The ancient Greeks were probably wiser in this regard. They considered a chimera to be a monster.

Indeed, something seems very monstrous about this idea.

"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself." Isa 44:24.

2 comments:

Lauren said...

God created discrete species to teach men the difference between clean and unclean and to magnify himself with the wonderful diversity of creation. Somehow I don't think fusing bovine and human cells was intended to be part of the scheme. Chimeras were not created, unless they were the result of unholy antediluvian unions that perished in the flood. Scientific Man has evidently decided that if he can't create something masterful, he'll create something monstrous.

Mike Pitzler said...

I've had the vague notion that a chimera was a vague notion.(I appreciate the links to Wikipedia.)

Many rejoice in the possibilities in this field: faster, hardier, stronger, smarter ubermenschen. We can be gods.