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Animal Human Hybrids
Stem cell controversy is revisited recently as U.K. moves
forward to proactively approach research in the form of human anima-
hybrids. Moral and ethical debates, typically based in religion, seek
to draw the lines between the ethical and the unethical. Meanwhile
other scientists report that the research is dead in the water, due to
differences in animal cell division. "The Legacy of Doctor Moreau,"
featured in the editorial section of Nature, focuses on the need for
research on hybrid embryos and chimaeric animals to collect information
regarding the treatment and progression of diseases. His main focus is
to separate public perception of animal human embryos hybrids from
popular science fiction's depictions of part human part beast monsters.
However he fails to address the real controversies and problems
associated with research in human animal hybrids. Ethical controversy
over the loss of human dignity, opening the door for the manufacturing
of embryonic cells for science and reproductive cloning, and scientific
concerns make early discussions of laws governing human animal hybrids
premature. The process behind the genetic mutation needed to create these human animal hybrid embryos is described in greater detail in Heidi Ledford's "Hybrid Embryos fail to live up to stem-cell hopes." The process required for this scientific feat is known as somatic-cell nuclear transfer. The nuclei of animal eggs is replaced with nuclei from human somatic cells (Ledford 1). The resulting cells contain aspects of both the human and animal cells. As these cells reproduce, their growth could be modeled against human development to discern knowledge of progression of human development and the development of disease.
A large ethics controversy has developed around the research of human animal hybrids. The basis for this controversy lies in religion and in prolife politics. Cardinal Rigali characterizes human animal hybrids as a misuse of technology and a degradation of human dignity. In order to produce the animal human hybrids, human stem cells must be used. The Catholic Church has condemned the harvesting of some types of stem cells for research. The church considers all stem cells that result from the termination of a pregnancy to be part of a human life. They further condemn any experimentation using these cells in human animal embryos. The condemnation of this research by the church is expected, but the controversy continues into the political world. “Crossing lines: Breaching Human – Animal and Left – Right Boundaries,” by M. L. Tina Stevens and Stuart A. Newman, writes that little consideration of the ethics of the issue is done by liberals in fear of aligning with prolife conservatives. Therefore the human animal hybrid research has completely aligned itself with prolife and prochoice campaign, and as long as the discussion of abortion is on the table in the United States, it will be difficult to make a concrete decision on the human animal hybrids.
The reason for this major split among the parties for most types of stem cell research lies in embryonic stem cells. Harvesting embryonic stem cells results in the destruction of the embryo (Holmes 6). Therefore, the question becomes whether or not society is willing to consider that one life may be more valuable than another. At this point in time, scientists have yet to discover a way to manufacture or reproduce the stem cells (Holmes 5). Therefore, by continuing research using embryonic stem cells we are opening the door for production of stem cells through terminated pregnancies. Markets could develop where women would earn money for the termination of child for embryonic stem cells. This possibility is even more real if a cure to a major disease was found using stem cell research. This would create a great demand for stem cells and strengthen a potential stem cell black market. Additionally many men and women are concerned over the research it self, and what tomorrows controversy might be.. For example, if scientist are able to successfully conquer the principle of intentional genetic mutation of the human race. Genetic manufacturing of human cells to grow and develop from embryos that are created to be free from disease is a major point of concern. For many religious culture’s this would be overstepping man’s boundaries. This may not be over stepping man’s boundaries for some, but how about selecting your child’s hair color before they are born. While the goals of human animal embryos and the ideas that spark controversy are not alike, the research that will allow these practices in the future is, The scientific process behind the creation of human animal hybrids is very similar to that of cloning. The same nuclear transfer operations could be a major part of more controversial research in the future.
Scientists researching human animal hybrids have suffered a major setback in countries where this research can be performed legally. Embryos created using somatic cell nuclear transfer have failed to live past 16 cells (Monastersky 642). Scientists have reported thousands of failed attempts over several years of extending the life of these unstable embryos (Monastersky 642). Ledford expresses that other solutions are available, but that the research may be off the table until scientists have a greater knowledge of a skill known as cellular reprogramming (Monastersky 642). With these failures in mind, decisions made about ethics and continuing human animal embryos may be immature. If these embryos continue to fail, the practicality of advanced stem cell based human animal hybrids may make the controversies irrelevant. Stem cell research is at its beginning stages and laws governing this research will need to adapt in the future as the science matures.
Preemptive discussion of human animal hybrids cannot be firmly decided with the state of the current knowledge. To try to force legislation or discussion of this research which is in its early stages, will force the issue to align with pro life pro choice arguments and kill the research before it gets off the ground. Stem cell research is a major debate in scientific communities and the possibilities that it brings need to be discussed by not only political leaders, but by the general public. Animal human hybrid embryos are not a political issue but a humanitarian issue.
Citations
- Holm, Soren. "Going to the Roots of the Stem Cell Controversy." Bioethics 16.6 (2002): 1-15. Print.
- Monastersky, Richard. "Hybrid Embryos Fail to Live up to Stem-cell Hopes." Nature 457 (2009): 642-643. Print.
- Tina Stevens, M. L Tina, and Stuart A. Newman. "Crossing Lines: Breaching Human-Animal And Left-Right Boundaries." The Humanist Oct. 2007: 5-6. Print.
- Wells, H.G.. "The Legacy of Doctor Moreau." Nature 576.6 (2002): 423. Print.
