Chimeras--Human/Animal Hybrids!

[AngieDoogles]

I couldn't believe what I was reading! Sometimes I think science goes too far...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0125_050125_chimeras.html

What do you guys think about this?

[teri88]

Well, as it pointed out there are people walking around with parts of a cow's heart or pigs heart inside of them. I think that anything that can help in research to eliminate diseases in humans can't be all bad. I'm an advocate of stem cell research. As someone who suffers from an auto-immune disease I am all for anything that can bring cures to human ailements.

I don't believe that embryos of ANY living thing should be created mearly to be destroyed to harvest the cells, that is wrong. ALL life is precious. I guess it's scary to think just how far man would go in trying to create these things. Only God has the right to create new life. But, so much good has come from research and I truly believe that God inspires brilliant men and women in their work. Oh, I dont' know...I guess I'm saying I see both sides of it. I think the scientists have a grave responsibility in how they go about their work.

[Janet]

I honestly don't know how to answer this. I've sat here looked at the two posts, went back to the site, and back here, then back to the site. I think we should do all possible to save human lives, but I hate to see other lives destroyed. I just honestly don't know enough to have a solid opinion.

[AngieDoogles]

Well, as it pointed out there are people walking around with parts of a cow's heart or pigs heart inside of them. I think that anything that can help in research to eliminate diseases in humans can't be all bad. I'm an advocate of stem cell research. As someone who suffers from an auto-immune disease I am all for anything that can bring cures to human ailements.

I don't believe that embryos of ANY living thing should be created mearly to be destroyed to harvest the cells, that is wrong. ALL life is precious. I guess it's scary to think just how far man would go in trying to create these things. Only God has the right to create new life. But, so much good has come from research and I truly believe that God inspires brilliant men and women in their work. Oh, I dont' know...I guess I'm saying I see both sides of it. I think the scientists have a grave responsibility in how they go about their work.

I didn't mean to imply that I think research is bad. I am all for researching to help save lives and cure diseases. It was just the mention of mice with human brains and cognitive abilities or a human child being born with mice as parents that was hard for me to grasp. I don't think things like that should be tampered with as the repercussions could be horrible for the "creatures" involved. Granted this article said that the scientists plan to destroy them before they really develop too far, but what about the next scientist who does it? Where do you draw the line? I guess I really just don't know how I feel about it. I do think that it has the potential of being very dangerous---or very beneficial.

[Marilyn]

Personally, I don't have a problem with some of the experimentation. We're not going to stop the creation of human embryo's that will eventually be destroyed, so I would think that using them in stem cell research that could cure illness would not be a bad thing. However, creation of an embryo specifically for this purpose, that I have a problem with.

In the article that Angie has sited.....I don't have a problem with people having pig heart valves, and some of the other things they are doing, BUT I do have a problem with them creating cross species creatures. Creating a mouse with a human cognitive brain for example would be totally wrong, if it is even possible. Not sure God would allow human cognition in a creature like that. I'm all for preventing alzheimers, but I'm not sure this is the right way to go about it. Why do we need to use mice to produce human sperm and eggs when we have billions of people walking the earth capable of doing that. This is just very dangerous territory.

[DianaB]

I have a problem with it when the genetics of anything are changed. The seed that some farmers are planting is genetically modified but my husband doesn't feel right about planting it. We try to stick with the Non-gmo seed.

Just where is all of this going to lead us? How does God feel about us trying to "play god"? I don't think that He's very happy with it and I see it as another mark against us in our downfall.

[Tink]

For those who believe in the "big-bang theory" and that we evolved from apes, this would be no moral dilema. For those who believe in a supreme being as our creator, it's scary ground.

My guess is, that by the time we're learning of this, it's already old news in the scientific community. Those determined to do this work will likely pursue it in secret so that they can't be stopped before they reach their goals. It's rather sci-fi movie-ish, but many things that have been done have come from a sci-fi mentality and blossomed into reality later.

[Dobie]

The thought that I have for some of the things scientists are doing is just because they can do something, doesn't mean they should.

[Marilyn]

I have a problem with it when the genetics of anything are changed. The seed that some farmers are planting is genetically modified but my husband doesn't feel right about planting it. We try to stick with the Non-gmo seed.

Just where is all of this going to lead us? How does God feel about us trying to "play god"? I don't think that He's very happy with it and I see it as another mark against us in our downfall.

Diana, I may not have been clear in my post. I agree with your position on experimenting with the genetics of things. Stem cell research and use of pig valves is one thing. Monkeying with genetics is very dangerous territory. God meant for us and the creatures he created to have the genes we have. I saw where they modified the genetics of tropical fish to make them glow and modified the genetics of a cat to take away the allergins. We don't fully understand the potential negative repercussions of these seemingly harmless experiments with the genes that make us all who we are. I am concerned with the modification of the genetics of our crops as well. This does border on trying to play God.

[judy]

My guess is, that by the time we're learning of this, it's already old news in the scientific community. Those determined to do this work will likely pursue it in secret so that they can't be stopped before they reach their goals. It's rather sci-fi movie-ish, but many things that have been done have come from a sci-fi mentality and blossomed into reality later.


I definitely agree with your second paragraph Tink. I feel that all kinds of things are being done in the scientific community that we know nothing about.
I was doing my doctoral research on slowing down the aging process. We were funded for it because Ronald Reagan, who was president at the time, did not like the idea of getting old! Look what happened to him too, poor old geezer.

I did not believe in our research, which was one of many reasons why I left the program. It is my belief that we all know right from wrong, somewhere in the pit of our stomach, from the time we are born. I do not believe in farming embryos for stem cell research, but I understand Teri's point of view because my daughter has MS. What if she could be cured because of stem cell research? I don't believe in abortion, but I do believe in a woman's right to choose. It's between her and God, and not for me to intervene in her process. I don't believe in the death penalty, but when Scott Peterson was sentenced, I was happy. And so on.

Chimeras? In the pit of my stomach - no - but maybe it is part of God's plan
for us to learn how and then to be sure not to use it in ways that are wrong.
What if it did heal disease?


"For those who believe in the "big-bang theory" and that we evolved from apes, this would be no moral dilema. For those who believe in a supreme being as our creator, it's scary ground."

It's not that simple Tink. I believe that God created everything, but I also believe in evolution. It's a whole set of ideas, not learned from anyone but myself. It doesn't necessarily follow that I have no moral dilemmas with things like chimeras, abortion, etc.


heart.