Tori Weston, U6 TXD The Ethics of Human Animal Embryos

The Ethics of Human-Animal Embryos

By Shalini Sellam, U5 Aleph

We’ve all heard the debate on stem cells and discarded embryos - should we protect them to save a life, or use them for research to save even more? - yet it seems this question may have to give way to another; one that fifty years ago, nobody would have seen coming. Animals and humans are two separate species: but what if they weren’t? A chimera is a human-animal hybrid. Scientists have not created these yet, nor do they intend to, but what they have come up with is called a cytoplasmic hybrid embryo. It is created by injecting a human nucleus into an animal embryo and is kept alive for 14 days for research purposes. In a cell, there are two types of DNA; most of it is stored in the nucleus, while some is found as mitochondrial DNA, therefore these embryos are 99% human, biologically, and since May 2008, legally considered humans. Now this research on its own could be considered in the same vein as stem cell research: opposed by some for religious and ethical reasons, but altogether in support of humanity and continuing scientific research. However, this strand of bioethics involves cross species combinations. Many are outraged at what scientists believe is acceptable, and many more are worried as to how this will escalate in the near future.

The main reason for the opposition is, as expected, the idea of “playing God”. These beings are essentially motherless, created solely for the benefit of science, and while this may seem like a step towards saving lives (such as researching cures for genetic disorders), many religious bodies have expressed their concern. It seems wrong to create these embryos and not allow them to grow into proper humans –thus denying them the chance at a full life. As well as this, the idea of combining species may look unnatural. Many argue it doesn’t take both human and animal rights into account. “…the creation of an animal-human being represents a natural border that has been violated…” --President of the Pontifical Academy for Life

And surely, we cannot say that this research will never escalate into something more uncontrollable? The very nature of science is to always be growing, changing, developing our ideas. Currently, scientists claim these embryos will be used for research only. Research, though, can take different definitions; in years, these foundations could be used to engineer actual chimeras, combine human and animal DNA, create whole new species which could rebalance the world as we know it. Different species have different strengths –but if we can share these genes, who knows what might come along? People should consider the paths this research could take- delving into an ethical grey area, something is likely to go wrong. Of course, these reasons are legitimate concerns. On the other hand, we should switch our focus to what scientific research is meant for: to gain a better understanding of the world we live in. Scientists argue that the embryo will never

Imagine where we would be if scientific progress was inhibited now, or imagine where we would be if it had never been inhibited in the past.

become an animal, human, or chimera, and so is not infringing on human rights or otherwise. This research will further stem cell research, as these embryos can be harvested creating a larger abundancy of stem cells. Eggs could no longer be needed for research, which would actually quash some moral concerns, and so this could be a gateway to more efficient and controllable experimentation. We should trust the scientists, mathematicians, doctors and engineers who seem to hold our very being in their latex gloves. Imagine where we would be if scientific progress was inhibited now, or imagine where we would be if it had never been inhibited in the past. It could be a different world. People are curious, and if these embryos are simply helping and not hurting, we should support every ounce of progress. And of course,

a majority of MPs have ruled that this research is allowed. It may not be something you’ve thought about, but what really is the relationship between human and animal life? After all, we evolved from apes. The lines between species and genes have always been blurred. Should we cross them to explore what we can find, or stay on either side, and trust that lines were drawn for good reason? For now, we can only watch and see. Maybe in the future we will have a whole new species –or maybe we could find something totally different.