Human/Animal Hybrid Embryos Grown in UK Labs

[Katabole]

Saw this article. Thought it was interesting since it brings in the science/ethics debate.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... years.html

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.

Last night a campaigner against the excesses of medical research said he was disgusted that scientists were ‘dabbling in the grotesque’.

Figures seen by the Daily Mail show that 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.

The figure was revealed to crossbench peer Lord Alton following a Parliamentary question.

Last night he said: ‘I argued in Parliament against the creation of human- animal hybrids as a matter of principle. None of the scientists who appeared before us could give us 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.’

Josephine Quintavalle, of pro-life group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: ‘I am aghast that this is going on and we didn’t know anything about it.

‘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.’

Test centre: Newcastle University was another site where human animal hybrid testing was being undertaken
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.’

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.

[Kuglof]

This is seriously sick and disturbing stuff. I read about it and I read more somewhere else...

In those articles I read stated that cloning of humans is conducted over decades now, it also stated that this "scientific brake throughs" are known to elite at least for 50 years before released as news in general public. So read some "future" development stuff and be sure that it exists over 10 years already..

So we have Island of dr. Moreau being UK in Europe. Nice ....

Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
Leviticus 19:19 KJV

[StMonicaGuideMe]

The outcome of bestiality without sex.

I vomited a little in the back of my mouth. This is revolting. This is the type of stuff that calls to heaven for judgement. It is so disgusting and immoral, I really hope God puts his foot down soon (conveniently right on the lab, perhaps? )

I'm all for disease prevention, but this is outright perversion of nature.

[Reactionary]

I'm all for disease prevention, but this is outright perversion of nature.

It's not disease prevention. One of the opponents pointed out that no cures have ever come from embryonic stem cells. The goal seems to be to degrade the human being as much as possible, and there's obviously no lack of new methods of doing so.

The embryos have to be destroyed within 14 days - I'd be afraid to even see what would come out of such "hybrids" - probably a disaster.

[StMonicaGuideMe]

Oh, my mistake. This is vile. Truly vile. I can't imagine, in God's infinite mercy, would he provide souls to those embryos. It's truly perversion.

There's a part of me that WANTS to be around when Christ comes again. It would be ridiculously hard to witness, I'm sure, but good Lord, at least the faithful would be able to have some relief that justice is being done and horrible things like this would be stopped. This really makes me ill to think about.

[Reactionary]

Oh, my mistake. This is vile. Truly vile. I can't imagine, in God's infinite mercy, would he provide souls to those embryos. It's truly perversion.

I don't think the embryos would survive for too long - God programmed the nature in an orderly manner, otherwise the living world wouldn't be surviving for millions of years. At least I hope so.

There's a part of me that WANTS to be around when Christ comes again. It would be ridiculously hard to witness, I'm sure, but good Lord, at least the faithful would be able to have some relief that justice is being done and horrible things like this would be stopped. This really makes me ill to think about.

It would definitely be an honour to be among the last generations, who will witness the Second Coming.

[Murray]

Ohh dear, that island is growing more and more godless. Only hope the faithful few that live there will continue to endure.