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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raging Epistaxis" data-source="post: 2200451" data-attributes="member: 1169">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>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</blockquote>

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