Plan to create human-cow embryos

Submitted by iCandy: 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. Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris - a member of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee - said: "If human benefit can be derived by perfecting therapeutic cloning techniques or from research into subsequently-derived stem cells, then it would actually be immoral to prevent it just because of a 'yuck' factor." Stem cell research is one of the most promising areas of medical science. Stem cells 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 say they need to have access to thousands of embryos for research. The problem is that human eggs for research are in short supply and to obtain them women have to undergo surgery. That is why scientists want to use cows' eggs as a substitute. They would insert human DNA into a cow's egg which has had its genetic material removed, and then create an embryo by the same technique that produced Dolly the Sheep. The resulting embryo would be 99.9% human; the only bovine element would be DNA outside the nucleus of the cell. It would, though, technically be a chimera - a mixing of two distinct species into one.

View: Full Article | Source: BBC News

NO! NO! NO!

It is not the "yuck factor", it is from an ethical point of view. If we allow this then were do we draw the line in experiments of this sort?

What is the world coming to?

If cells from a less-than-a-week-old unsentient human-cow hybrid embryo can be used with such promise to cure terrible diseases and end some human suffering, then they should deifnitely go for it!

I say NO This is crazy. There has to be another way to find a cure.

think of it as this 1 life could save millions by finding a cure so y not do it. Take 1 for the team.

'Potentially dangerous?' Do they think we might end up with horned humans called Daisy running around eating peoples' lawns?

They get the stem cells from an embryo that is only a few days old. That is just a blob of goo whose cow genetic material has been removed.

I have no problem with stem cell research and feel that it will benefit humankind immensely!

With this research there is no telling how many diseases may be cured and all the lives that can be saved.

Some say we shouldnt play God but if we didnt then where would we be.....

NO! NO! NO!

It is not the "yuck factor", it is from an ethical point of view. If we allow this then were do we draw the line in experiments of this sort?

What is the world coming to?

define what an "ethical point of view" is or perhaps give your own

research should be done for the good of mankind, personal views of morality or whats "right or wrong" should have nothing to do with research.

Seems promising enough. I hope there will be no narrow-minded protestors trying to shut it down.

'Potentially dangerous?' Do they think we might end up with horned humans called Daisy running around eating peoples' lawns?

The worst part is, they'll all be running around wearing muumuus.

NO! NO! NO!

It is not the "yuck factor", it is from an ethical point of view. If we allow this then were do we draw the line in experiments of this sort?

What is the world coming to?

I say NO This is crazy. There has to be another way to find a cure.

It's people who say these things that will be the end of humanity.

We need to research these things so we know how things work and can be altered.

If it takes life's to save life's then so be it.

It's people who say these things that will be the end of humanity.

We need to research these things so we know how things work and can be altered.

If it takes life's to save life's then so be it.

Agree. And in this case... you're not even taking a life. Well it's technically 'living' but it's a cell.... a modified cow embryo :-/

I dont understand how modifying a friggin cow embryo with human genes to possibly cure human diseases and save countless lives is unethical?

Unless the mutated cow embryo has more right to life than the countless suffering people in the world...?

I am all for the improvement of the human situation on this earth but there has to be lines drawn when we start to poke about with genetics/science.

How far do we go in our search to heal/improve ourselves? Where do we draw the line between "taking one for the team" and abusing our knowledge?

Who knows when we actually start being defined as "living"? What if it were pure human embryos? What if it were day old babies instead? What if we instead used the old and frail to advance our medical knowledge?

See my point? (For those who are slow, where do we draw the line?)

Anyway if the theory of evolution is correct, then eventually we should evolve beyond all these illnesses or as least become stronger because the weak has died out...

Ok now that I have TRIPPED over everyone's toes, I'll end off saying this is just my humble opinion and they will continue with the experiments regardless of what I think. So no worries we go forward...

I assume that you have had vaccinations before? Or gone to the doctor for medicine when you were sick?

The truth is that pretty much ALL of us are alive unnaturally. Maybe part of our 'evolution' is our brains developing the intelligence and ability to cure these diseases.

If we simply 'let the weak die, and the strong live' I doubt many, if any of us on the forum would even be alive now. Heck the average human lifespan may still be 30-40ish.

I honestly do not think we'll see the day when born babies are used for medical research.

BTW- if it was a pure human embryo, I'd still be for it. If people are gonna have abortions, instead of throwing the embryo in the garbage, use it to save lives.

Sorry if you are of different opinion I dont mean to offend, but I do not categorize an unsentient cluster of cells as having the same rights as a fully developed human.

If its between something thats still just cells and a fully-formed person capable of pain and suffering, the already existing people get first rights over the cells in my opinion.

The unfortunate truth is that the best way to research and find cures for diseases is to use other living beings whether it be mice or human cells.

And when someone close to you has a deadly disease (like cancer) that is thankfully being successfully cured due to advanced research, you really begin to appreciate even more how important research is, and how wonderful it is when treatments are developed through that research.

I would never, ever think it would be better for a loved one to die than to sacrifice a lesser life form to cure that person and others suffering like them.

How can anyone object to using cow embryos for research while ignoring the millions of cattle slaughtered for food every year? It seems extremely illogical to call one unethical while going out to Burger King for dinner is just fine. It is even more illogical considering that the beef used for food is probably making you fat and unhealthy, (not anyone specifically, of course...) while stem cell research will cure unhealthy people.

Actually Star-girl has a very valid point.

Yes, using the results from stem cell research, we might be able to treat many diseases etc that are currently untreatable, however evolution would then seem to raise it's ugly head and we force the very diseases etc we are fighting to mutate into a new, untreatable form.

Look at what is happening with these so-called 'super-bugs'.

I look at what we are doing with stem cell research as equivalent to the development of antibiotics. Yes you could argue antibiotics have been wonderful and saved many lives, but you could also argue they have weakened or resistance to infection while simultaneously forcibly evolving the micro-organisms they combat to be more resistant.

Tampering with nature when we are not 100% certain of all the consequences is a risky strategy.

OOh you can just feel the love in this place hey...

Anyway I stick to my opinion of not using these experiments. Yes there are benefits that could come from this and heal many people but when you start playing with fire you will get burnt sooner or later...

I see Jalorm you have never grew up near a farm of any sort because then you would know that EVERY SINGLE animal is an individual. They have their own personality and own temperment, just because cows cannot talk or object to what happens to them does not mean that we can do what we like with them... (by the by I am a vegetarian... )

Not everything can be cured by medical science if you are meant to die you will definately die at that specific time regardless of how much medicine they pump into your body.

...

If it takes life's to save life's then so be it.

Man...i really love this phrase...full of determinism and machismo!