(DM) – Experts are warning against the creation of hybrid lab animals for fear of causing animals undue suffering through potentially unethical research. One such proposed hybrid would be monkeys with partially human-derived brains. These ‘chimeras’ — so named after the mythical beast made of different animals — could let us better study diseases like Alzheimer’s in a model more like humans. Chimeras have already been created to explore the possibility of creating transplantable human organs in animals
to relieve donor organ shortages. And recently Chinese researchers reported creating the first monkeys with human brain genes. However, some experts warn that ethical guidelines are needed before such work proceeds further, with hybrids potentially able to experience enhanced suffering. Other researchers propose that splicing together human and animals brains is a line of investigation that should be avoided altogether. READ MORE
