By John Jalsevac
UK, January 5, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Reminiscent of Mary Shelley’s famous novel “Frankenstein”, it sometimes seems that in the current climate of no-holds-barred scientific research, anything goes, no matter how bizarre. Britain’s government, however, has apparently decided that the line needs to be drawn somewhere, and is therefore introducing new legislation that, if passed, will ban all experimentation on human-animal hybrids, or so-called “chimeras”.
For some years already researchers around the world have been combining human genetic material with animal eggs. The result is a so-called “chimera”, a creature that scientists say is over 99% human, and 1% animal.
Although these scientists have made elaborate claims about the cures for degenerative diseases that can be had from such research, the purpose of the experimentation—beyond mere curiosity and the thrill of moral boundary-pushing—is vague. Most hybrid researchers claim that a shortage in human eggs suggests the use instead of readily available animal eggs injected with human DNA.
Nevertheless, some scientists in Britain have responded strongly to the proposed legislation, asserting that by banning the research the British government will be disadvantaging sufferers from incurable diseases.
“Britain leads the world in stem cell research and for the government to back off on a very reputable, regulatable area of research, which has so much potential value, seems to be really short-sighted,” said Professor Stephen Minger of the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory at Kings College.
One Member of Parliament, Dr. Evan Harris, pointed out an inconsistency in the proposed ban, and in doing so seemed at first glance to be offering an argument for a complete ban on all such research, including that conducted on purely human embryos.
“What would be unethical,” said Harris, “would be for hybrid embryos to be given greater protection than human embryos, which can be created and used for up to 14 days before being destroyed.” However, Harris continued to defend both human and hybrid research, saying that it would also be unethical “for patients to be denied the chance to benefit from research just because some people find it distasteful.”
Prime Minister Tony Blair, in comments to the press, said that there are “difficult” issues surrounding hybrid experimentation, but added that he was “sure that research that’s really going to save lives and improve the quality of life will be able to go forward.”
Currently in the U.K. several applications for licenses to carry out research on hybrid embryos are pending with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Given the stated intention of the current government to ban such research, however, it is expected that the HFEA will deny the licenses.
A spokesman for the HFEA said that the new law, if passed, will be worded in such a way as to make it possible that research conducted on hybrids could be allowed at some later time, reported the BBC.