Scientists create Cow/Human Embryo

[Danny White]

See, this is the sort of stuff that makes me nervous about the future of "therapeutic" cloning.

Very sick, if you ask me.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23476268-38200,00.html?from=public_rss
Cow-human cross embryo lives three days

By Grant McArthur

April 03, 2008 01:38am
Article from: Herald Sun

HUMAN-cow embryos have been created in a world first at Newcastle University in England, hailed by the scientific community, but labelled "monstrous" by opponents.

A team has grown hybrid embryos after injecting human DNA into eggs taken from cows' ovaries, which had most of their genetic material removed.

The embryos survived for three days and are intended to provide a limitless supply of stem cells to develop therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries, overcoming a worldwide shortfall in human embryos.

Dr Teija Peura, director of human embryonic stem cell laboratories at the Australian Stem Cell Centre, said somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) had been done between animal species, but the "99 per cent human" embryos could boost research.

"If successful, they would provide an important additional research tool to help realisation of stem cell-based therapies for human diseases," Dr Peura said.

"All avenues of research, including SCNT . . . need to be encouraged if we want to fulfil the promises of stem cell technologies."

But her colleague, Dr Andrew Laslett, warned the process was yet to yield a stem cell line and so it remained only an academic possibility.

In January, the Fertilisation and Embryology Authority gave Newcastle University a licence to do the work, but the British Parliament would debate the longer-term future of such research next month.

Under the licence, embryos are not allowed to be developed beyond 14 days.

Preliminary findings of the embryo program were presented in Israel last week, and the head of the university's Institute of Human Genetics, Prof John Burn, said further evaluation would be done before the full details were published.

"If the team can produce cells which will survive in culture, it will open the door to a better understanding of disease processes without having to use precious human eggs," Prof Burn said.

"Cells grown using animal eggs cannot be used to treat patients on safety grounds, but they will help bring nearer the day when new stem cell therapies are available."

The Catholic Church in Britain branded the creations as "monstrous" - a view supported by Caroline Chisholm Centre for Health Ethics director Fr Kevin McGovern.

"An almost-human embryo is being created and then it's being destroyed," he said.

"I cannot see that that respects human life or the dignity of human life.

"Human beings - or even almost human embryos - are not just things that you can use in a laboratory experiment.

"What is being created is life.

"No one knows exactly what would grow from these embryos.

"If this is approved in the UK, there will be renewed pressure to permit it here, and we will travel further down the slippery slope of allowing just about anything."

It is not the first time hybrids have been created.

The method was pioneered by Dr Hui Zhen Sheng's team at the Shanghai Second Medical University, China, where she fused human cells with rabbit eggs to produce early stage embryos, which in turn yielded human stem cells.

[PosterChild]

A How?

[Jon88]

A little off the subject, but it's my understanding that Bush vetoed a bill that would propose using stem cells that would be thrown away anyway to grow organs and other things for people who needed them.

Yet he has no problem sending people to war.

[BrAinPaiNt]

It makes this West Virginian feel naughty.:D

On a serious note...I have no problem with it at all. I hear most say they don't think the government should pay for this type of thing and it should be the private sector that does it...well it looks like our government is not.

[Danny White]

A little off the subject, but it's my understanding that Bush vetoed a bill that would propose using stem cells that would be thrown away anyway to grow organs and other things for people who needed them.

Yet he has no problem sending people to war.

That's simply not true.

No one's claiming that they're going to grow organs from embryos. And if they were, how are they going to do that without creating a human life first? Just grow a lung in a petri dish? That would be quite a trick.

Bush quite simply vetoed a bill that would have allowed experimentation on human embryos. You can disagree with that position if you like, but it's certainly not a morally indefensible stance.

But to suggest that there were people waiting around for organs that would have been produced by these embryos is absurd.

[Danny White]

It makes this West Virginian feel naughty.:D

On a serious note...I have no problem with it at all. I hear most say they don't think the government should pay for this type of thing and it should be the private sector that does it...well it looks like our government is not.

So you have no problem with people creating human/cow hybrids?

Welcome to the island of Dr. Moreau.

Or this: :D

http://images.southparkstudios.com/media/images/316/316_listen_to_mephisto.gif

[Viper]

Be honest...


Your firsts thoughts were...


How many Teets will she have?

[Jon88]

That's simply not true.

No one's claiming that they're going to grow organs from embryos. And if they were, how are they going to do that without creating a human life first? Just grow a lung in a petri dish? That would be quite a trick.

Bush quite simply vetoed a bill that would have allowed experimentation on human embryos. You can disagree with that position if you like, but it's certainly not a morally indefensible stance.

But to suggest that there were people waiting around for organs that would have been produced by these embryos is absurd.


If the embryos will be thrown away I don't see what the problem is.

He sends human beings to war doesn't he? What's with manipulating donated embryos to improve human life? Oh, that's right. He has to appear religious.

[Danny White]

If the embryos will be thrown away I don't see what the problem is.

You're going to be "thrown away" at some point, too.

Do you have a problem with people doing whatever they want with you once you're in a position where you can't defend yourself (death or incapacitation)?

[Jon88]

You're going to be "thrown away" at some point, too.

Do you have a problem with people doing whatever they want with you once you're in a position where you can't defend yourself (death or incapacitation)?

If my parents donate me I have no choice.

[Danny White]

If the embryos will be thrown away I don't see what the problem is.

He sends human beings to war doesn't he? What's with manipulating donated embryos to improve human life? Oh, that's right. He has to appear religious.

He's sending human beings to war who volunteered to fight for their country.

You can be against the war if you want to, and you can be in favor of experimentation on human embryos if you want to... but comparing the two is absurd.

[Jon88]

He's sending human beings to war who volunteered to fight for their country.

You can be against the war if you want to, and you can be in favor of experimentation on human embryos if you want to... but comparing the two is absurd.


I'm not against the war, but I think banning experimentation on human embryos is absurd.

[arglebargle]

That's simply not true.

No one's claiming that they're going to grow organs from embryos. And if they were, how are they going to do that without creating a human life first? Just grow a lung in a petri dish? That would be quite a trick.

....

Of course, that is exactly what they are aiming for: growing organs in the equivalent of a petri dish. If they can figure out how to manipulate stem cells well enough. The goal would be to take someone's own cells and (re)-grow them into whatever was needed. This will require a lot of basic research first though.

Personally I kinda like all the mad science stuff. And anyway, the genie's out of the bottle. Good luck trying to put it back in.

[BrAinPaiNt]

So you have no problem with people creating human/cow hybrids?

Welcome to the island of Dr. Moreau.

Or this: :D

http://images.southparkstudios.com/media/images/316/316_listen_to_mephisto.gif

No I have no problem with eggs or embryos that would probably die anyways being used to try and help mankind.

[Jon88]

No I have no problem with eggs or embryos that would probably die anyways being used to try and help mankind.

Most smart people don't.

[Jon88]

Of course, that is exactly what they are aiming for: growing organs in the equivalent of a petri dish. If they can figure out how to manipulate stem cells well enough. The goal would be to take someone's own cells and (re)-grow them into whatever was needed. This will require a lot of basic research first though.

Personally I kinda like all the mad science stuff. And anyway, the genie's out of the bottle. Good luck trying to put it back in.

I thought that's what they were aiming for.

No, Danny, no.

[iceberg]

Be honest...


Your firsts thoughts were...


How many Teets will she have?

mine was more who has to milk it and who will drink it?

[zrinkill]

If my parents donate me I have no choice.

That statement explains a lot.

[Bach]

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/168500/168545dIkH_w.jpg

[Erik_H]

A How?

Nope.

A Muman...

Get it? a Moooooo-man!
:laugh2:

errr...

nevermind

[Jon88]

That statement explains a lot.

What other statement did you want me to make?

[Big Dakota]

An artist's rendering of what the animal would look like.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Barbara_Bush_black_and_white_1989.jpg/198px-Barbara_Bush_black_and_white_1989.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Barbara_Bush_black_and_white_1989.jpg)

[Jon88]

An artist's rendering of what the animal would look like.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Barbara_Bush_black_and_white_1989.jpg/198px-Barbara_Bush_black_and_white_1989.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Barbara_Bush_black_and_white_1989.jpg)

And then there's you...

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:7me9TnJGcYJR7M:http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/4500/Fat-Men-4947.jpg

[Mavs Man]

Nope.

A Muman...

Get it? a Moooooo-man!
:laugh2:

errr...

nevermind

Boooo!

:laugh2:

[Danny White]

Of course, that is exactly what they are aiming for: growing organs in the equivalent of a petri dish. If they can figure out how to manipulate stem cells well enough. The goal would be to take someone's own cells and (re)-grow them into whatever was needed. This will require a lot of basic research first though.

Personally I kinda like all the mad science stuff. And anyway, the genie's out of the bottle. Good luck trying to put it back in.

That's great if they're able to use stem cells to grow organs.

Hopefully this can be done by using adult stem cells or umbilical stem cells and that life will not have to be destroyed to achieve this breakthough.

Apparently a few people have had new bladders grown for them using their own cells (not stem cells as I initially thought, but regular bladder cells).


I'm not anti-science by any means, but I do think ethical questions need to be raised and addressed any time we're talking about creating clones, or human/animal chimera, or creating life for the purpose of experimenting on it.

[ScipioCowboy]

Of course, that is exactly what they are aiming for: growing organs in the equivalent of a petri dish. If they can figure out how to manipulate stem cells well enough. The goal would be to take someone's own cells and (re)-grow them into whatever was needed. This will require a lot of basic research first though.

Personally I kinda like all the mad science stuff. And anyway, the genie's out of the bottle. Good luck trying to put it back in.

I don't think anyone here has suggested "putting the genie back in the bottle." We're simply trying to place this genie within the appropriate ethical confines. New scientific breakthrough normally yield a slew of ethical question that must be addressed.

This is nothing new.

For instance, some of the best hypothermia research was conducted by Nazi scientist during WWII, but we don't use it because it was gathered by killing live human test subjects, mostly Jews.

The genie can stay as long as he plays nice.;)

[Jon88]

I don't think anyone here has suggested "putting the genie back in the bottle." We're simply trying to place this genie within the appropriate ethical confines. New scientific breakthrough normally yield a slew of ethical question that must be addressed.

This is nothing new.

For instance, some of the best hypothermia research was conducted by Nazi scientist during WWII, but we don't use it because it was gathered by killing live human test subjects, mostly Jews.

The genie can stay as long as he plays nice.;)

We don't use the information they gathered? We may as well.

[ScipioCowboy]

We don't use the information they gathered? We may as well.

When you use research, you lend validity to the methods by which the research was gathered.

We don't use the Nazi hypothermia research because it was gained unethically, and we shouldn't condone unethical behavior.

Whether or not the same logic applies here is a matter of debate.

[joseephuss]

Nope.

A Muman...

Get it? a Moooooo-man!
:laugh2:

errr...

nevermind

Isn't Mitt Romney one?

[BrAinPaiNt]

Isn't Mitt Romney one?

I don't know about mitt, but I am no convinced that John Kerry has Horse genes in him due to that long face he has.

[joseephuss]

That's great if they're able to use stem cells to grow organs.

Hopefully this can be done by using adult stem cells or umbilical stem cells and that life will not have to be destroyed to achieve this breakthough.

Apparently a few people have had new bladders grown for them using their own cells (not stem cells as I initially thought, but regular bladder cells).


I'm not anti-science by any means, but I do think ethical questions need to be raised and addressed any time we're talking about creating clones, or human/animal chimera, or creating life for the purpose of experimenting on it.

That should certainly come up.

I don't think this particular case is as bad as it is made out to be by the big title human-cow. Their goal is not to create a human/animal chimera. Pretty funny by the way.

It seems very similar to when they create antivenon from horses to use on humans. Or how they used to get insulin from sheep(i think that is what they used) to use for people with diabetes.

Obviously, the science is not the same, but a similar kind of approach is there.