This Blog considers assisted suicide/euthanasia, bioethics, human cloning, biotechnology, radical environmentalism, and the dangers of animal rights/liberation. My views expressed here, as in my books and other writings, reflect my understanding that the philosophy of human exceptionalism is the bedrock of universal human rights. Or, to put it another way: human life matters. (The opinions expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of any organization with which I am affiliated.)
This isn't a first, but it is a continuing effort. Researchers have used stem cells to create a mouse with human brain cells in its brain. The amount is minute, but it begs an important question that isn't even close to the public discourse front burner: How much human DNA into an animal is too much human DNA in an animal?
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 4:30 PM
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I am a Senior Fellow in Human Rights and Bioethics at the Discovery Institute and the author of 12 books, including A Rat Is A Pig Is A Dog Is A Boy, which is relevant to the issues considered by this blog.
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Theme to STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS PINKY AND THE BRAIN (Episode P1)
Music by Richard Stone. Lyrics by Tom Ruegger.
They're Pinky and The Brain
Yes, Pinky and The Brain
One is a genius
The other's insane.
They're laboratory mice
Their genes have been spliced
They're dinky
They're Pinky and The Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain.
Before each night is done
Their plan will be unfurled
By the dawning of the sun
They'll take over the world.
I'm not bothered by human DNA in the cells of animals. Fill it up like a balloon for all I care. DNA is a superficial benchmark to measure these bio-ethical issues as there is more to humanity than DNA, far more.
However, growing human nerve cells in an animal might be problematic. I'd be more concerned if science were closer to creating human level intellect and emotion in these animals. Since we're nowhere near that, I see no reason for alarm.
I would add the word "yet" to the sentence in Royale's assertion of "no reason for alarm."
But I think we should set the ethical parameters now, before the scientists get to the place where they could elevate an animal's intelligence (which a few bioethicists have supported doing).
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