Creating Monsters
Now that man has the ability to
create monsters, it is only a matter of time before he indulges himself.
A report in the National Geographic News for Jan. 25 was titled "Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy." These hybrids are called chimeras after a monster in Greek mythology that had a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
In 2003, scientists in Shanghai successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs, "reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created." In 2004, scientists at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood. Irv Weissman, a Stanford University scientist, has tentative plans to create mice with human brains. Weissman does not believe people should put "their own moral guidance in the way of this biomedical science," but we disagree. Man has no authority to tamper with human
and animal life by creating hybrids; he simply doesn't know what he is doing.
Man is made in the image of God, and where does the human soul fit into these weird plans? Scientists such as Weissman claim they only want to help mankind by finding new cures for diseases and such and that they have no intention of creating monsters, and this is probably true; but there are others who will gladly pursue such a goal. Man has demonstrated repeatedly and irrefutably that he is capable of every evil monstrosity. (Canada is the only country that currently outlaws chimeras.)
What do you think? Should the USA outlaw 'chimeras?' Does the possible 'bad' outweigh the possible 'good?' What about aborting a chimera? Is it true that where's there life, there is always hope?
create monsters, it is only a matter of time before he indulges himself.
A report in the National Geographic News for Jan. 25 was titled "Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy." These hybrids are called chimeras after a monster in Greek mythology that had a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
In 2003, scientists in Shanghai successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs, "reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created." In 2004, scientists at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood. Irv Weissman, a Stanford University scientist, has tentative plans to create mice with human brains. Weissman does not believe people should put "their own moral guidance in the way of this biomedical science," but we disagree. Man has no authority to tamper with human
and animal life by creating hybrids; he simply doesn't know what he is doing.
Man is made in the image of God, and where does the human soul fit into these weird plans? Scientists such as Weissman claim they only want to help mankind by finding new cures for diseases and such and that they have no intention of creating monsters, and this is probably true; but there are others who will gladly pursue such a goal. Man has demonstrated repeatedly and irrefutably that he is capable of every evil monstrosity. (Canada is the only country that currently outlaws chimeras.)
What do you think? Should the USA outlaw 'chimeras?' Does the possible 'bad' outweigh the possible 'good?' What about aborting a chimera? Is it true that where's there life, there is always hope?
posted by Johnny at
7:40 AM
4 Comments:
First, I hate animal testing. I understand why it is done in traditional medical circles, but I abhor it nonetheless. Europe especially has done some significant work in medical testing without animals through advanced software programs.
As for cloning or mutating genes, again I am against it. Too often scientists get so caught up in discovering whether or not they can do something that they forget to stop and ask themselves whether or not they should.
Put it this way then: I don't think they should do anything to animals or people that they aren't first willing to do to themselves.
In the name of furthering science and benefiting humanity, of course. ;0)
By
Aravis, at 12:02 PM
I know God is ultimately in control, but it all seems so Dr. Moreau-ish. Hybrid life and who knows what kind of suffering will occur. Even worse, the accidental screwing up of the gene pool. It's all rather frightening.
By
Johnny, at 3:47 PM
Then there's the whole issue of cloning, and human cloning in particular. I remember when I was a child I saw a movie called "Anna to the Infinite Power" in which a girl learns that she is one of 6 clones. It was very frightening to me, and I have never forgotten it.
By
Aravis, at 4:21 PM
Combining mice with human brains, is creepy, even if they want to search for traces of human cognitive behaviour or whatever else.
I like what Chesire says in that article "We must be cautious not to violate the integrity of humanity or of animal life over which we have a stewardship responsibility."
"Research projects that create human-animal chimeras risk disturbing fragile ecosystems, endanger health, and affront species integrity."
Di
By
Anonymous, at 4:24 AM
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