NCBC Response to UK Approval to Manufacture Human-Animal HybridsThe Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the government branch that regulates the human procreation industry and research in the UK, has approved the manufacture of human-animal hybrid embryos for research purposes (Read the BBC Article). This involves enucleating live animal (cow) eggs, and inserting a human somatic nucleus (one with a full set of human chromosomes; the entire human genome). This technique is known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), or cloning. This type of experimentation belongs to eugenics, and has been condemned by the international scientific community and the Catholic Church. The NCBC strongly deplores the decision of the HFEA of Great Britain to legalize such experiments. The Spring 2006 issue of The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly was devoted to an extensive consideration of the topic of Chimeras and Hybrids. The Winter 2006 issue of the same publication contained an article called Ethics and Human-Animal Transgenesis which explored the question: Is It Morally Acceptable to Transform an Animal Zygote by Introducing Human DNA into Its Genome So That the Developing Embryo Inherits Some Human Biological Characteristics? Additional resources on human cloning can be found by searching the NCBC website. |
