2016 Reality: Human Animal Hybrids

INTRODUCTION:

Scientists have been conducting research in their labs that involves creating human organs inside of animals. Currently there are about 123,000 American lives who are on a organ donor list. Creating a human animal hybrid by adding human stem cells to pig and sheep embryos could provide these very organs that these individuals need. However, there is very little knowledge as to what happens when these human cells begin to grow inside these animal embryos. This has caused much controversy as well as concern whether the human stem cells that are injected into these animal embryos. Many are concerned that the stem cells will begin to multiply and specialize so much so that the animal will develop human characteristics(ranging from physical to human intelligence). 

Many labs are still moving forward with their work with the helpful aid of recent advances in stem cell biology as well as gene editing techniques. They make it possible to genetically engineer pigs and sheep which are not able to develop their own specific tissues and organs. The goal of these experiments is to inject human stem cells into embryos of animals and allow the stem cells to grow into the missing organ which can then be harvested. Not only does this new research provide hope and possibly life for many who are on organ donor lists, but it could possibly put an end to the black market of organ 'donations'. Many people involved in the black market arena, usually in poverty stricken areas, take human lives and use the organs to make a profit. More often times than not, people pay tremendous amounts of money for these organs so that they will have a chance at living. The ethical and moral controversy and tension is still very strong. (A)

Because this is just the very beginning of research around the idea of creating human animal hybrids to harvest organs for patients on organ donor lists these experiments are not for growing human organs just yet. They are used to create methods for a means towards an end. In September of 2015, the National Institutes of Health refused to fund such studies until they were able to better inspect the science of these studies more closely. (A) Meanwhile, in Britan, scientists created over 150 human animal hybrid embryos in secrecy for three years. They did so for the many wide range of diseases affecting people world wide. What happens when these experiments go too far?  

In 2008 the Human Fertilization Embryology Act was published to the public and since then scientists have created 155 embryos that contains both human and animal genetic material. The creation of a variety of hybrids became legalized including animal egg being fertilized by a human sperm called 'cybrids'. The human nucleus, in this scenario, is implanted into an animal cell known as 'chimeras' where the human cells are now mixed with the animal's embryos. Such techniques and many others can be used to develop embryonic stem cells that will be able to treat a range of incurable illnesses. (B)

Research in the UK have stopped creating hybrid embryos due to the lack of funding. Many scientists believe that this work will continue again in the near future. The controversy here is is whether it is ethically moral to use animals to save human lives. Is one life worth another? Many believe that it can never be justifiable as it discredits the UK as a country. There were 80 treatments and cures conducted with stem cells in which adult stem cells (not embryonic ones). This fails on the moral and ethical aspects as well as the scientific and medical aspects. Adding more fuel to the flames, the question of why these experiments were kept a secret and if the scientists were proud of their work why is there a need to as parliamentary questions in order for these studies to become publicly aware. The concern stretches to the scientists’ curiosity and eagerness to experiment, often times lacking enough rationale to perform such experiments. (B)

A group of leading scientists warned about ‘Planet of the Apes’ experiments for they demanded new rules in order to prevent lab animals from developing human attributes from human stem cell injections into the brains of primates. Robin Lovell-Badge from the Medical Research Council’ s National Institute for Medical Research, stated that scientists were not concerned about human-animal hybrid embryos because by law these have to be destroyed within 14 days. He said: ‘The reason for doing these experiments is to understand more about early human development and come up with ways of curing serious diseases, and as a scientist I feel there is a moral imperative to pursue this research. As long as we have sufficient controls – as we do in this country – we should be proud of the research.’ (B) 

it was worried about the chance that animals’ “cognitive state” could be altered if they ended up with human brain cells.

CONCLUSION:

The experiments rely on a cutting-edge fusion of technologies, including recent breakthroughs in stem-cell biology and gene-editing techniques. By modifying genes, scientists can now easily change the DNA in pig or sheep embryos so that they are genetically incapable of forming a specific tissue. Then, by adding stem cells from a person, they hope the human cells will take over the job of forming the missing organ, which could then be harvested from the animal for use in a transplant operation.

“We can make an animal without a heart. We have engineered pigs that lack skeletal muscles and blood vessels,” says Daniel Garry, a cardiologist who leads a chimera project at the University of Minnesota. While such pigs aren’t viable, they can develop properly if a few cells are added from a normal pig embryo. Garry says he’s already melded two pigs in this way and recently won a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Army, which funds some biomedical research, to try to grow human hearts in swine.

it was worried about the chance that animals’ “cognitive state” could be altered if they ended up with human brain cells.

it was worried about the chance that animals’ “cognitive state” could be altered if they ended up with human brain cells.

it was worried about the chance that animals’ “cognitive state” could be altered if they ended up with human brain cells.

The effort to incubate organs in farm animals is ethically charged because it involves adding human cells to animal embryos in ways that could blur the line between species.

The effort to incubate organs in farm animals is ethically charged because it involves adding human cells to animal embryos in ways that could blur the line between species.

The experiments rely on a cutting-edge fusion of technologies, including recent breakthroughs in stem-cell biology and gene-editing techniques. By modifying genes, scientists can now easily change the DNA in pig or sheep embryos so that they are genetically incapable of forming a specific tissue. Then, by adding stem cells from a person, they hope the human cells will take over the job of forming the missing organ, which could then be harvested from the animal for use in a transplant operation.

“We can make an animal without a heart. We have engineered pigs that lack skeletal muscles and blood vessels,” says Daniel Garry, a cardiologist who leads a chimera project at the University of Minnesota. While such pigs aren’t viable, they can develop properly if a few cells are added from a normal pig embryo.

Although these new human animal hybrids or chimeras can be a source for organs, will these animals grow to resemble humans a little too much? What if these chimeras develop features such as a more human face or characteristics like higher intelligence? Now what? Is it still ethically and morally right to still proceed as planned in taking out all their organs leading to their death? When is it okay to give a life to save one?

Links:
(A)http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/human-animal-hybrids-growing-for-organ-transplants-160111.htm
(B) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2017818/Embryos-involving-genes-animals-mixed-humans-produced-secretively-past-years.html
(C)http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/human-animal-hybrids-chimeras-us-science-a6806516.html
(D)https://www.technologyreview.com/s/545106/human-animal-chimeras-are-gestating-on-us-research-farms/

*Please note! These images are not mine. They were found on various tumblr sites! If any are yours please let me know so that I can give you credit for them! Also the people in the images have no relation to the diseases, illnesses, or cancers I write about. Thanks so much & enjoy~

BIOTERRORISM: Mutant Flu Virus

The H5N1 avian influenza causes an infectious disease in birds that can be spread to people. Almost all people that have encountered the disease have been in close contact with infected birds. The disease is serious and has a high mortality. About 60% of infected people that catch the disease do not survive. (http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/avian_influenza/h5n1_research/en/) Naturally, the disease was not transmitted from person to person.

Recently scientists have been able to create in the laboratory a form of the avian influenza virus H5N1 that can be transmitted among mammals or between people. The argument used to justify such efforts is that scientist wanted to see how transmission of the disease is influenced by genetic manipulation in order to make possible the early detection of potential strains that can cause pandemics. The creation of the H5N1 form that is transmissible between people has raised concerns about the risks and safety of such research. If such strains of virus were accidentally released from the labs they could easily spread to unprotected population across countries and continents causing a pandemic. Such research has also raised the concerns related to the possible use of the virus as a biological agent in a bioterrorist attack.

Bioterrorism is the release of biological agents that includes viruses, bacteria, or toxins that could be transmitted through air, food, or water. The original avian influenza virus could spread only from sick birds to the humans in close contact with them and not from the sick person to a healthy one.

The simple fact that the new genetically changed H5N1 virus can easily pass between humans creates the basic premise for a weapon for bioterrorism. Biological agents are easy and inexpensive to obtain, easily spread, and can spread fear and panic beyond any actual physical damage they can cause.

Accidental release of the virus is also possible regardless the safety measures that are in place in labs. This makes the accidental spread of the disease and eventual quick spread among the population a reality.
It is possible that with the technological means available today and amassed knowledge in genetic, microbiology, virology, biology or other related disciplines scientist can achieve similar results with other types of viruses or microbes that can be a threat to public health and safety.  Such results are predictable. In the actual case, I believe, the findings and results were not incidental. Instead they were the result of a well studied methodology and work that may have lasted for years. Conducting such work requires also funding and therefore such work controllable. The ethics committees, public safety entities, IRB and other entities that make possible similar research activities should have been dealing with the question whether such research should have been allowed or not. I assume that their decision has been to allow it.

The other question raised by such events is that related to the publication of similar results. If such results became public knowledge how easily similar effects can be reproduced by those who may plan to use them for terrorism.

Mutant flu virus or in this case the H5N1 avian flu virus that is transmissible between mammals intrigued me immensely. The looming fear of accidental release of such a virus or even worse, a bioterrorist attack with a virus studied and understood by the researchers conducting it without the public’s knowledge would create uproar. This scenario could lead to greater skepticism of the general public towards research and science in general. The trust that people put on scientists to be innovative and find cures through research could forever be tarnished.

This study is very important because it gives us the ability to look for certain clues in animals not just ferrets that are likely to become infected with this virus and how we can anticipate when the next flu virus can occur. There was a lot of doubt about the ability of this virus circulating around the world, reaching unprotected populations that can have a severe threat but now there is no doubt that this could become a new pandemic.
In my opinion the results of similar studies should be published. Publishing the results of the study would give insight and the needed knowledge to monitoring the incidence and spread of the avian influenza, create more awareness of the virus, greater information for vaccine development, and possibly more funding by the people for future research for cures and treatments of the H5N1 virus.

 

The methodology used to create the new virus strains should not be published. In fact the governments should put very strong safety measures to prevent that the technology and method remain intellectual property of the scientific institution that has developed them. In addition, the government should take the proper measures that would prevent the divulging of such knowledge to public because of the danger of being used to create biological agent that can be used in bioterrorist attacks.

However the concerns about publishing such results could be sheer public panic, biosecurity or bioterror acts, accidental release, and broad proliferation.

Video on the debate of H5N1 avian flu virus:
http://blogs.nature.com/news/2012/02/video-debating-h5n1-and-dual-use-research.html
Advances in science occur only when information is shared so that others can duplicate a study and make new discoveries.
 *I do not own these images, they were found on various tumblr sites. Please let me know if any are yours and I will give you credit for them. Thanks so much!