The Human Fertilization and Embryology Act of 2008 legalized this, allowing embryos to be created that contain both human and animal genes. Animal eggs can be fertilized with human sperm to create a half human, half animal embryo. Other forms of embryo include cybrids, where the nucleus of a human egg (its genetic material) is implanted into the shell of an animal egg and chimeras, where human DNA is mixed with animal embryos.
Hybrid Embryos and the Egg Donor Shortage
Scientists say cybrid embryos could solve the human egg donor shortage:
‘The main practical difficulty with using donated eggs in CNR research is that it is very difficult to recruit egg
donors. One way around this shortage is to use animal, rather than human, eggs in research. Where animal eggs are used in cell nuclear replacement, the resulting embryo is not only a clone, but is also a kind of hybrid.’
They say that the amount of animal DNA in the embryo is less than one percent, making them ideal for research into human diseases.
Indeed, that is the justification given by King’s College London, Newcastle University and Warwick University, who created the 155 hybrid embryos. They say that research like this can be used to create embryonic stem cells with which to cure diseases.
Hybrid Embryos: Dabbling in the Grotesque?
This ignores previous research that embryonic stem cells can cause cancer and the fundamental question of whether patients will actually be willing to have hybrid stem cells injected into them?
Public opposition is staunch and the experiments were only revealed following a parliamentary question and doubtless would have remained secret had that question not been asked.
Lord Alton, who asked the question, said
“I argued in Parliament against the creation of human- animal hybrids as a matter of principle. None of the scientists who appeared could give us any justification in terms of treatment.
‘Ethically it can never be justifiable – it discredits us as a country. It is dabbling in the grotesque.”
Josephine Quintavalle, from Comment on Reproductive Ethics, added: ‘I am aghast that this is going on and we didn’t know anything about it.
‘Why have they kept this a secret? If they are proud of what they are doing, why do we need to ask Parliamentary questions for this to come to light?”
Preventing diseases doesn’t seem like a solid enough reason for many members of the public when there are other ways of finding treatments.
Do Hybrids Have the Right to Live?
The passing of the law allowing human hybrid research has brought with it greater ethical arguments. Although scientists and the law insist that no hybrid embryo will ever be implanted into a woman, such a scenario is easy to see in the future.
Catholic bishops argue that hybrid embryos shouldn’t be created as it is ethically wrong but if they are created, it is equally wrong to destroy them. They say that as the embryos have mostly human genetic material, they should be considered human and that the genetic mothers of these hybrids should be allowed to gestate their hybrid embryos and raise them.
They said that inter-species embryos should not be treated any differently than fully human embryos, but if such a law hadn’t be passed then society would not have to answer questions such as these.
Sources:
- 150 human animal hybrids grown in UK labs: Embryos have been produced secretively for the past three years, The Daily Mail, 25th July 2011.
- Hybrids and Chimeras, A Consultation on the Ethical and Social Implications of Creating Human/Animal Embryos in Research, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
- Chimera embryos have right to life, say bishops, The Telegraph, 26th June 2007.
Joanna Karpasea-Jones - I have been a health writer since 1997 when I published my own newsletter, SHOTS. I have written 2 books on childhood health, and write ...
