U.K. Grants Approval for Human-pig Hybrid Embryos | The Institute for Creation Research

U.K. Grants Approval for Human-pig Hybrid Embryos

This article is part 1 of 3 in a series.

The U.K.'s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has approved an application by the University of Warwick to form pig-human embryos. As of July 1, 2008, under the 12-month license, researchers plan to place human DNA (both nuclear and mitochondrial) into a pig egg cell.

Research team leader Professor Justin St. John told the Telegraph that by creating hybrids, "We can attempt to derive embryonic stem cells....Ultimately, they will help us to understand where some of the problems associated with |heart| diseases arise and they could also provide models for the pharmaceutical industry to test new drugs."1

Despite the U.K. scientists' efforts, there is no longer a need for embryonic stem cells, since stem cells can now be derived from adult sources. This fact begs the question of the perceived necessity to continue experimentation with embryonic, rather than adult, stem cells.

St. John said, "We are hoping to create cells that would have human chromosomes and human mitochondrial DNA."1 We have those already. They’re called "human cells." For several years now, researchers have been attempting to overcome the incompatibility of nuclear DNA from one species with the mitochondrial DNA of the other egg-donating species.2 However, there is no longer a strong medical reason to work through the mitochondrial/nuclear compatibility problem,3 unless the goal is to clone a human.

It is our responsibility to protect life (especially human life) as we submit to God’s command on this issue: "Thou shalt not kill."4 The possibility of animal-human chimeras opens the door for future ethical dilemmas, including the use of women's wombs for the industrial production of body parts, the harvesting of body parts from clones, and the waste of embryonic human life through research and development. We would do well to remember and not repeat the 20th century mistakes of mass murder in the name of scientific progress.

References

  1. Highfield, Roger. Human-pig hybrid embryos given go ahead. Posted on Telegraph.co.uk. July 1 2008, accessed July 2, 2008.
  2. Tecirleoglu, R.T. et al. 2006. Interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer and Preliminary Data for Horse-Cow/Mouse iSCNT. Stem Cell Reviews. 2:277-285
  3. For justification of this statement, see the next article in this series of three on pig-human embryos.
  4. Exodus 20:13.

* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer.

Article posted on July 9, 2008.

To read the next article in the series, go to "Understanding the Stem Cell Debate."

The Latest
NEWS
The Return of the Dire Wolf?
There’s been much recent excitement about the birth of three dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) puppies by a Dallas-based biotech company: Colossal Bioscience....

CREATION PODCAST
Cracks in the Layers: Lake Suigetsu and the Old Earth Illusion...
Welcome to the third episode in a series called “The Failures of Old Earth Creationism.” Many Christians attempt to fit old earth...

NEWS
Fish Fossil Vomit
A rather unsavory news story recently appeared regarding fossilized vomit. Although it’s hardly dinner table conversation, it nonetheless supports...

NEWS
Dino Footprints Down Under
Dinosaur trackways1 are once again making the news. Australia is the setting of a remarkable series of dinosaur tracks attributed to ornithischian...

NEWS
April 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things...

NEWS
Human Evolution and the Inner Ear
The vain attempt by evolutionists to make an evolutionary connection between people and ape-like ancestors continues. This time, it is in regard to...

CREATION PODCAST
Defending the Faith with a Rocket Scientist | Creation.Live Podcast:...
How do engineering principles, biological complexity, and a solid understanding of apologetics work together to further the cause of Christ? Why...

NEWS
Aerobic and Anaerobic Hot Spring Bacteria
God designed a domain of prokaryotes called Archaea that thrive in harsh and extreme environments. In 1969, two microbiologists, Thomas Brock and Hudson...

CREATION PODCAST
The Soulless Hominid Theory: A Fatal Flaw in Old Earth Creationism...
Welcome to the second episode in a series called “The Failures of Old Earth Creationism.” Many Christians attempt to fit...

NEWS
Humpback Whale Calls Echo Creation
There is nothing simple about the system of communication called language, whether animal or human.1 Human language is a very sophisticated...