say no to Man-cow hybrids?

andyandy

anthropomorphic ape
andyandy
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UK scientists planning to mix human and animal cells in order to research cures for degenerative diseases fear their work will be halted.
They accuse the body that grants licences for embryo research, the HFEA, of bowing to government pressure if it fails to consider their applications.

Ministers proposed outlawing such work after unfavourable public opinion.

The creation of hybrid human-animal embryos was first suggested as a way of addressing the shortage of human eggs available for research.

But the HFEA says it is unresolved whether this type of controversial work is permissible under existing laws - or even whether it falls under the HFEA's jurisdiction to grant a licence.

The resulting embryos made are more than 99% human, with a small animal component.

Opponents say this is tampering with nature and is unethical.

The researchers have called for greater understanding of what they are trying to achieve.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6230945.stm
 
Say yes. Do the oponents have a death wish? I want to live dammit.

I hope these oponents feel like idiots when they're dying from cancer or heart disease in a few decades.
 
I understand that most objections have come from the religious quarters. Spot the big clue.
Opponents say this is tampering with nature and is unethical.

They are clearly wrong. If god didn’t want us tampering with animals he wouldn’t have made the Welsh.

It was pointed out on the radio this morning that we currently tamper with nature using animal insulin in humans and using parts of Pig hearts in human transplants. I dare say the objectors want to stop this as well.

The main objectors quotes are core ethics a group which
was founded in 1994 by Josephine Quintavalle and Margaret Nolan. It is a public interest group focusing on ethical dilemmas surrounding human reproduction, particularly the new technologies of assisted conception.
It aims to facilitate informed and balanced debate, to involve lay people in discussion of the issues involved, to encourage the broader participation of philosophers, theologians and social scientists in dialogue, and where necessary to bring about democratic reform to the legislation controlling these practices.
Absolute respect for the human embryo is a principal tenet. Of particular concern to CORE are matters relating to the physical and psychological welfare of children born from these various practices
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I notice that my paper has accompanied this story with a picture of what looks, to my untrained eye, like a cute little foetus.

:mad:

*sigh*
 
Don't have a cow-man! [should have been my thread title.....damn]

I was listening to a debate on BBC radio this morning - the usual arguments against were being trotted out - "messing with nature" seemed to be the main one.....

....since when have we not been "messing about with nature"? It's such a lame argument.....oh, stop messing with nature?

No more pace-makers? No more insulin? No more transplants? Where do we stop? When we're back to the life expectancy of pre-agricultural homo-sapiens living in caves hunting dear with flint spears? Is that any more "natural"?

*sigh*

what annoys me is that often the agenda behind opposition to this kid of research is religious in nature - and it's just dressed up in fancy "unethical" clothes to disguise the main argument "godwouldn'tlikeit"

:mad:
 
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it's just dressed up in fancy "unethical" clothes to disguise the main argument "godwouldn'tlikeit"
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Unfortunately that seems to be the sole basis for many people's systems of ethics.
 
andyandy said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6230945.stm
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I find this objection to nascent minotaurism narrow minded and myopic. All that need be done is ensure that any man/cow hybrid born is placed in a maze. England has, if one is to believe Hollywood, many gardens with intricate mazes that can easily accomodate surplus minotaurs, to whit, any not allocated to Shempburger(TM) franchises. :D

I think we should name the first female minotaur Elsie. Female minotaurs hooked up to milking machines can provide a breakthrough in animal rights, as they can provide more precise feedback on comfort, and lactation cycles, than can the ordinary dairy cow. This new opportunity for process improvement, and more humane treatment of bovine milk sumps, will surely please PETA.

Feeding the children of Europe's royal families to the maze-bound male minotaurs is a social policy that the EU should probably consider at the minesterial level.

DR
 
Dave1001 said:
Say yes. Do the oponents have a death wish? I want to live dammit.

I hope these oponents feel like idiots when they're dying from cancer or heart disease in a few decades.
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No, they'll happily take the cures developed by other nations, thus partly masking their own idiocy.
 
I can think of certain parts of a bull that I wouldn't mind be genetically integrated into my body.
 
Man-cow hybrids? I thought it was already effective?

8886459e7e4deafd5.jpg
 
Dave1001 said:
Say yes. Do the oponents have a death wish? I want to live dammit.

I hope these oponents feel like idiots when they're dying from cancer or heart disease in a few decades.
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That's why I would happily support a registry of people who protest research with animals, clones, etc. - so that when they are ill, medical authorities can help them avoid violating their principles by accepting treatment developed with procedures they are morally opposed to.
 
Paging Cordwainer Smith. Paging Cordwainer Smith.

Paul MA Linebarger to the white courtesy Instrumentality phone, please.
 
fuelair said:
That's why I would happily support a registry of people who protest research with animals, clones, etc. - so that when they are ill, medical authorities can help them avoid violating their principles by accepting treatment developed with procedures they are morally opposed to.
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There was a minor uproar when Linda McCartney, big supporter of no testing on animals, socialized medicine, whatever, discovered she had cancer and hopped on a plane to New York for treatment.

All that BS sounds good until you're the one dying. Then it's "Give me the biggest Nazi bastard in the world as long as he's the best doctor around."
 
Darth Rotor said:
I find this objection to nascent minotaurism narrow minded and myopic. All that need be done is ensure that any man/cow hybrid born is placed in a maze. England has, if one is to believe Hollywood, many gardens with intricate mazes that can easily accomodate surplus minotaurs, to whit, any not allocated to Shempburger(TM) franchises. :D

I think we should name the first female minotaur Elsie. Female minotaurs hooked up to milking machines can provide a breakthrough in animal rights, as they can provide more precise feedback on comfort, and lactation cycles, than can the ordinary dairy cow. This new opportunity for process improvement, and more humane treatment of bovine milk sumps, will surely please PETA.

Feeding the children of Europe's royal families to the maze-bound male minotaurs is a social policy that the EU should probably consider at the minesterial level.

DR
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I thought minotaurs required virgins. Will Europe's royal families be able to provide such a resource?
 
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