Geneticists create Chimeras - I'm effing serious.

[Fenris]

"Link worked for me. Very interesting story. I think there are far fewer ethical issues with this type of treatment than other stem cell research though."

Sure, but man, when does our poodle wind up as a registered voter?

They don't. In this experiment they aren't mixing genes. They are allowing some human cells to grow inside the host. The human cells remain human, the sheep cells remain sheep. There is no cloning, splicing or manipulation of the genes here. And the low rate of trans-organism cell in the CNS is actually good int hat that helps allay some fears and ethical concerns, and unfortunate, because so many neuro-muscular degenerative diseases could benefit from it.

But this can really help the backlog of people waiting for organ transplants, at least for livers.

 

[Shemeska]

Pretty damn cool

But nothing new. Chimeric animals are a standard research tool in some areas. I've made mouse/chicken chimeric embryos in order to look at gene/protein expression in vasculogenesis. Mouse/something else chimeras are pretty damn common, but the very idea tends to get an OMFG!!! from people outside the sciences. We sadly have to overcome the mad scientist creating giant ants/blobs/godzilla/plagues/flesh golems stereotype too often. Trust us that we take the ethics of what we do very seriously and nothing is done without a good reason.

And if I recall, certain uses of Chimeras in research are outright banned in Canada but not here in the States. But since I'm not up north of the border there I can't say exactly what it was.

Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go make sure the creature hasn't broken its chains in the lab's back room again. Muahahahaha!

 

[Del]

Hey man, when the dragons get out of air force duty and run for office, they got my vote!

(totally having fun with this)

 

[Tinker Gnome]

Damn, no zombies yet.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Damn, no zombies yet.

Haven't you seen Resident Evil? Don't want no zombies.

 

[Chimera]

And if I recall, certain uses of Chimeras in research are outright banned in Canada but not here in the States. But since I'm not up north of the border there I can't say exactly what it was.

Canada, eh?

 

[Torm]

We sadly have to overcome the mad scientist creating giant ants/blobs/godzilla/plagues/flesh golems stereotype too often.

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I know you will ), but isn't the threat from this that DOES bear some watching that it has a small possibility of allowing "jumps" for virii and such from one species to another?

 

[Raging Epistaxis]

Yawn.

I've seen at least a dozen naturally occuring chimera over the years in my practice, not counting hybrids like mules, coydogs, and wolf hybrids. Or the Lab Animal work I've done in the past.

Mostly hermaphrodites, but the rare tricolor male cat (torti or calico) does show up from time to time.

I find it sadly funny that most people's fear response to these technologies comes mainly from horror/fiction. If you want to be really afraid, there's enough natural terror out there to be found if you look.

The exotic to the mundane - Viruses (marburg, ebola, influenza), bacteria (E.coli, MRSA ), Toxins( snakes, spiders, plants) the list goes on.

I did think it was interesting that there were some human nerve cells integrating into the sheep's CNS. But I honestly don't think there is anything that special about Homo sapiens sapiens nerve cells that having a small proportion of them will suddenly make an animal significantly more (or less) intelligent than they would otherwise be. Now, if those cells of either genetic make-up were to assume the configuration and level of interaction of a human brain (organ level), then perhaps they would be more like us.

Then again, I'm one of those whack jobs that thinks that there really is not that big a gulf between the neurologic functioning(intelligence) of many animals and humans. It's mainly a matter of different styles of communication - we're mainly verbal, and they don't speak our language - rather than a lack of basic sentience on their part.
<it must be late - I found myself on a soapbox again>

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I know you will )

I couldn't pass up this opportunity...

I don't think the risk is all that great. Yes, it can happen, especially with certain pathogens that already have a propensity to be non-species specific. But, I'd say the risk is much less from these sorts of chimera under controlled environments than from different species living in close proximity in unsanitary conditions.

Ever consider why the big avian influenza and variant human influenza outbreaks tend to come from third-world and similarly depressed areas?

Besides, there is such a thing as SPF creatures (Specific Pathogen Free) - born and raised in nearly sterile conditions, often for generations. If I needed a liver, and none were available but a chimeric one grown in a SPF sheep, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

R E

 

[WayneLigon]

Good that they're doing this, and I hope they can continue to advance the research. I want my skin, blood, kidneys, liver, etc ready to go when I get hit by a truck or something.

 

[Torm]

Yes, it can happen, especially with certain pathogens that already have a propensity to be non-species specific. But, I'd say the risk is much less from these sorts of chimera under controlled environments than from different species living in close proximity in unsanitary conditions.

Oh, I absolutely agree under lab conditions. I think the people who are concerned about this are the ones (like myself) who think it is likely that at some point somebody is going to make a chimera of some sort and think "these are so cute, they should be pets" and start selling them. And a household pet is pretty far outside the lab.

And I agree about the sanitation issue, but chimeras PLUS a lack of sanitation is just EXTRA asking for trouble, no? :\