To add--It scares me at how self destructive we are as "humans" We abort 46 million babies per year worldwide. We genocide our own "human race". We are so worried about the Saddam's of the world, taxes, and gas prices. This resource does not surprise me--we do not value our own unborn children.

Wendy, Austin,

I think that hybrid embryos are inhuman.

Dean M, WGC, England

What makes us human? our intelligence? Animals have intelligence. God is supposed to be all knowing and all powerful.....are we not animals compared to that? Whats the big deal with this or even more extensive researce to create hybrids, If any creature can make moral choices, Thats whats Human

Wayne, Tulsa, USA

I am all for this. If peoples quality of life can potentialy be improved then surely this can only be a good thing. My dad has Parkinsons Disease and although i know there are hundreds of thousands of sufferers out there, i would certainly like to think there is some hope out there.

sally, newcastle, uk

If people looked at research instead of getting swept up in the "we are doing this to save lives" they would learn that the most successful research has been done with adult stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells, in fact embryonic stem cells have had the least amount of success in curing diseases

Amy Brown, London,

Given the complete removal of the DNA which lies inside the nucleus of an animal cell within an animal egg and its replacement with a human nucleus and it's DNA, how is it that even .01% of the replacement DNA in this egg is still animal.

Is there something else we need to know here ?

jonathan chapple, Kingston Upon Thames , UK

Essentialy, you are killing a 'clump of cells' with the potential to be a baby. If you were to leave an embryo to grow to 38weeks would you still kill 'the bunch of cells then'? you have to ask yourself is killing that clump of cells at 6 days any different from killing the same clump 38weeks later?

Raphael Shalaby, London,

The hybrid is human.

Nothing in the embryo is cow. When the embryo copies itself, only human genetics are passed on. Only the enviroment the genetic material survives in is quasi-cow.

Nobody is trying to create actual human-animal hybrids, there is no genetic mixing. 6 days later it is destroyed.

Ben S, Leeds, England

Vikki Viens

In regards to the comment about not helping "these diseases" , Human stem cells are being cultured and observed and studied in order to assess the activites of the genes held within. The diseases are not in cows no, but that is not the nature of the study. it is to extend knowlege.

S Harley, Liverpool, UK,

Paul, My dad passed away early this morning and he went knowing that it was the end of this journey and the beginning of eternity. What a sense of peace in just knowing that one truth. When you seek with your heart not your mind then you will know. You can start your search by reading Romans.

W. Andrews, Austin, Tx,

Of course God's at the centre of the Bible, but doesn't actually exist in the real world. These are Bronze Age people desperately trying to make some kind of sense of the world at the dawn of civilisation, and anthropomorphically imputing intention into all they see.

Paul Caira, London,

This is not about being religious--It is about digging deeper into the Bible. Is God really in the middle of this? Genesis 1:24 God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds; livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.

W. Andrews, Austin, Tx,

Dear W,
Why is the only answer to the question in the Bible? If the answer will only be revealed if I am really seeking it, when will I know that I wasn't really seeking it, but only thought I was seeking it?

Paul Caira, London,

To all those religious people out there, "Have your really thought about this?" I am a religious person myself and still believe that this is a right thing to do. You do not realize the benefits of this, but the ethics issue comes into play and that puts everything into chaos.

Kevin Noronha, Windsor,

Kurt,
I think your assumptions have some merit. Also, was the human body meant to receive foreign DNA of any kind.? The body usually rejects the donated organ or blood that is suppose to help. So a person has to take drugs to keep the body from attacking the foreign organ.

W. Andrews, Austin, Tx,

Paul,
"Does God bless this union?" I believe you should seek the answer to this question yourself. The only place to do that is to open your Bible. The answer will be revealed to you if you are really seeking it.

W. Andrews, Austin, Tx,

Kurt, we are NOT talking about any of these embryos growing into human (or quasi-human) beings. These are cells that have been tricked into dividing AS IF they were human embryos, but which are going to be destroyed before they reach 14 days. The only trouble comes when people use the word "soul".

Paul Caira, London,

W Andrews,
A "test tube baby" is created from human sperm and a human ovum, and the only difference from normal conception is where it takes place. Here we are talking about the nucleus of a human cell (not necessarily a sperm) being introduced to a cow ovum. Does God bless this union or not?

Paul Caira, London,

Paul,

The admixed embryos created by the Newcastle group are of a kind known as cytoplasmic hybrids, or cybrids, which are made by placing the nucleus from a human cell into an animal egg that has had its nucleus removed. The genetic material in the resulting embryos is 99.9 per cent human.

Taken from text above. It seems to me it is like a test tube baby, only 0.1 per cent cow.....

W. Andrews, Austin, Tx,

Could human/animal cells or organisms become sick easier and more often? Becuase some animals immune systems can't take the same stuff ours can and most of the creatures in the world have much shorter life spans than humans. If anybody wants, please resond.

Kurt, Stamford, CT

W Andrews,
But is this conception as we know it? If it involves human DNA taken from, say a skin cell, and a cow egg, and if it isn't likely to survive more than a few days, especially given that it's never going to see the inside of a uterus, in what sense is it a 'baby'?

Paul Caira, London,

Just 18 days after conception, the baby's heart begins to beat.

I believe that life begins with concecption. All that is necessary to make those cells grow into a human being is there. All it needs is time to mature. Have we all forgotten that we all started from the same beginnings?

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14

W. Andrews, Austin, Tx,

this is too all the people who are saying "oh my god your taking a life! and its human of all things! why dont you use animals to fertilize the eggs!!!" well here would be the reason why.YOU WANT CANCER TO BE CURED?? since thats a rhetorical question you dont answer it. to cure CANCER in HUMANS we need to use HUMAN dna.i'm not for abortion or just plain killing, and this is just to clarify something. all religions have something true in them but most things in them are fake. deal with it.

chris, quebec,

W Andrews,
Some people live to their nineties smoking 40 a day. Others die from cystic fibrosis in their teens having led blameless lives. It's ludicrous to pretend that illness is the punishment for bad behaviour. There is no universal justice - we live in a universe of pitiless indifference. The only creature with any sympathy is our fellow human, and our only hope from relief from this injustice is in science and medicine.

Paul Caira, London,

Most diseases humans suffer from are caused by our own disobedience and immoral living. So it does not surprise me that some of you feel that scienctists are justified in what they are doing. All in the name of human advancement. It would be so wrong to let people suffer for their own wrong living. There are consequences to the way we live. My dad has cancer. He has smoked for over 40 years. I am saddened that he is hurting and suffering, but he will be the first to tell you that he lived life the way he wanted and this is the result.

W. Andrews, Austin, Tx,

When i first heard this piece of news, i was horrified the fact that we have used our very own human DNA for inserting into a cow's egg. I know that the embryo is not allowed live over 14 days. But I believe that when one cell is formed in the embryo...it still has a life. Maybe because I'm Christian and that's why i believe in that. But heck, this is my view. The fact that the scientists have wasted and risked a life into research is just not my cup of tea. If they really found a solution or a new discovery from this, good for them.

Amanda Lee, Hong Kong,

I don't see what the problem is. This research could potentially save so many lives. And you're complaining about the cow-human creature nonsense?
It is essentially a human embryo, it's not being implanted into the womb, nor is it going to grow beyond 14 days.
They're not hurting anyone.
Just helping. We're using the technology we have to better understand the way things work, why they work, and how to save lives/make people's lives /better/,
It's silly to think of this as immoral.
It's not.
You're not hurting anyone. An embryo that lives to only 6 days has no mind, nothing. It's just a clump of cells as of then.
Stop complaining, this is interesting and exciting work!

Aubry, Englewood,

All these people seem to be getting in wrong in this comment box. By the human fertilisation and embryology bill/law the embryo is not allowed to mature for more than 14 days, it is not allowed to be replaced back into the whom of a person or animal therefore no exotic creature will be produced that will destroy the world. The only reason it is genetically 0.1% cow is because of the genetic information left within the mitochondria of the cow embryo, this has no affect on the genetics of the embryo. The only reason one uses cow embryos is because of the low numbers of human embryo donors, therefore researches do not have to use human embryos any more, this research will aid treatment for genetic diseases by use of gathering stem cells and testing on them. We are not using these cows for evolution, it is to aid people with genetic disabilities such as muscular sclerosis. Once we have done the nuclear replacement process we will leave it to divide for 6 days!!

tom, oxford, england

That is ridiculous! People shouldn't be messing with embryoes...just because we have the technology does not mean we need to defy nature's natural course for things. If God or Nature or whatever you believe meant for us to be ANIMAL HYBRIDS, then it would have happened a long time ago. And we wouldn't have evoloved! I mean, HELLO!!! Didn't we supposedly come from monkeys? Why do we need to work with COWS!?!?! That's so messed up. It's seriously unethical to take perfectly good cells and create totally bogus things with them...we've messed with Nature enough with this whole global warming issue. Why do we need to do any more damage?

Personally, I think that if those British scientists want to mess with that stuff, then fine. That's there perogative. But don't bring it here, and don't start going all wacky. This is stupid to begin with. It probably won't even help with those diseases. Are those diseases even IN animals?? I don't THINK they are...

go figure...

Vikki Viens, Attleboro, MA

I think it would be immoral to create such beings, only to sutisffy human curiosity and desire to experiment on Gods creations. These experiments would probably widen our view on how does nature work, what if we tried to manipulate it? But i think some things are better left appart if thy are made on shallow purposes. For example, that cow-human creature, what would it be used for, exept for destroying the life of a being, would it save the world from eternal extermination. I don't think so. But , still i guess others know better since i'm only 17.

Eni, Pogradec, Albania

cow people... that's a pleasant thought

MaX, Dallas,

Hold on a cotton pickin minute

Didnt the BBC tell us last Friday that Parkinsons was caused by the use of pesticides in the home?

Stem cells aren't the answer. Understanding the power and mechanisms of toxins, parasites and pathogens, would in my opinion, cover the lot.

Understand the CAUSE and you'll find the cure.

Janey, Fleet, UK

For the guy below,
I think it should be DNA from Adult, as said in the particle extracted from ppl with genetic disease, to study the different cytoplasm environment's impact on DNA expression.

Reed, West Lafayette, IN

Where does the human DNA come from, a human embryo or adult human cell? Seems that is an important consideration which curiously is omitted from the article.

Anthony Savage, LaGrange, KY

Amazing as that is, I must say that it's a strange way of doing things.

Alice, plantersville, TX, US

About the headline "We have [created]..."
There is no such thing as humans creating anything, it is only rearranging and adjusting. In this case, they are putting the wrong information into an egg, quite monstrous, if you ask me!
There is a consequence to this, and only God can judge this! Similarly, there is a consequence in going after strange flesh!

Stephen, Belfast, Northern Ireland UK

no.... that's not sick at all.

Amanda Hold, Springfield,

& thus bringing life to an ancient mythical creature... the minotuar!!!

josh, lou, us/ky

So when all diseases are cured through this research and the population expands, because those who would've died through cancer or Parkinsons live. Who will you blame for the rise in the cost of living or the lack of housing?

I'm not a religious fanatic, just feel that when we exert our ability to make things better - we tend to make things worse.

This isn't about curing these diseases - do you really think it's going to be made availabe for free on the NHS? Look at the Cancer patients who have been denied their drugs as the cost was too much.

Mixing Human's with Cows - if it was April 1st I'd suggest you pull the udder one.

- and before anyone starts mouthing off about "you'd feel different if it was one of your relatives" - I lost an auntie through cancer last year and three close relatives were diagnosed with the disease, so don't try that one on me.

Paul Moxon, Birmingham,

If God gave us a brain it is likely He intended us to use it.

Simon Marshland, Bath, Somerset

This is a great step forward for us, if we are to learn we need to make mistakes, if this indeed is a mistake we will learn from it, i think that this type of research is essential. Not to offend religion but having more than one intelligent life form that we can communicate with (if successful) wouldn't be such a bad thing. a hybrid of a human and an animal could be more agile, stronger, possibly smarter. it may seem wrong to tamper with life but this if a hybrid were to be born it would be a great step for the human race.

Hayden Malcolm, Northland, New Zealand

Blah blah blah, moan moan moan. I am sure when this type of research cures cancer or some other massive illness then all you whining hippies will change your tone when it comes to having treatment yourselves!!!!

Steve Williamson, Manchester, UK

Can't we just do something like harvesting bits from the tens of thousands of abortions each year? Or perhaps paying unemployed women to produce what we need? You don't like this? Why would that be? They are just blobs of jelly after all aren't they?

i.e., Norwich, England

As a human person, I accept the eventuality and inevitability of death. And while there are some kinds of research that have been beneficial for humankind, there are other kinds of research that shouldn't be messed with. This is one of those things that I think everyone knows is fundamentally wrong. Some will try to justify it, but we all know. We know.

Allie, New York, New York

Bah, it seems most of these comments are made by paranoid ignoramuses, many spewing religious nonsense.

This news isn't really that big of a deal, as they aren't recombining the DNA. All they are doing is implanting an intact human nucleus, most likely from somatic cells, into a Cow Egg cell. Both species being mammals, I wouldn't be surprised that the two types of Egg cells are nearly identical (sans the nucleus, of course). All eukaryotic cells operate on similar cellular machinery and processes, so it's not like anything truly Frankenstein-ian is going on (also, in point of fact, Dr Frankenstein was unaware of cellular biology).

This is essentially the same process used in the creation of clones, just that the de-nucleated Egg Cell came from a Cow instead of a human woman.

Kevin, Columbus, OH

You say 99.9 percent so what does that .1 % do to the embryo considering we share more than 60% of our DNA with animals already?

Ashley Duke, San Diego,

Very interesting, but twisted as well and unatural. either way, this will not effect already-born people. Only the unborn. You could not get 'angel wings' since you can`t be reborn and nor could you hold yourself up if you had it.
To improve certain animal minds is great, but to twist it with something sick and over-test is wrong.

Kia, Pen.,

Many of the commentors sound like they would be quite comfortable with Dr. Mengele's work and the Nazi experiments on human subjects. That was "all for the progress of science and the benefit of the human race", especially in the "genetic" and evolutionary sense, if anyone had asked them.They were breeding the perfect human specimen, the "Super Man". What could be wrong with that?
When scientific data is announced to the public it has usually been going on for decades in secret. I would not doubt that there are vast numbers of deformed, and dead human-animal embryos hidden deep in scientific caverns all around the world.
It was scientists who gave us the Atom Bomb and this research will probably be the Genetic Atomic Bomb in its final results, man being the pure, altruistic, evolutionary "saint" that we know him to be. We are looking at Auschwitz on steroids and many seem quite complacent with the prospect.

L. Beauchamp, Rockport, USA, TX

It is like the book Maximum Ride by James Patterson has come to life!!!!

Filly, Bailey County,

This is not going to blow over well, I promise you that. Why would anyone be so selfish as to kill one child to save another? Haven't you heard of sacrifice? The story of Jesus? He could have lived and gotten on with his life if he hadn't sacrificed his own life to save ours. In the case of the loons who thought this up, that's a wasted effort. This. Is. Not. Good. Stop now before you really begin to regret this.

Lindsay, Fresno, California, US

I was quite baffled by the choice made by the scientists at the University of Newcastle to disclose their breakthrough to the press before a peer-reviewed paper providing a detailed account of their findings is published. This would serve as a primary reference for other scientists. In turn, these are likely to be interviewed either by yet other members of the press, or by normal citizens, thereby being instrumental in the development of a more mature and well-informed public opinion, which is crucual if we want science not to be in conflict with other spheres of human pursuit, such as religion.

Alco, in my opinion, a lot of comments published here are replete with ungrounded alarmism. As correctly reported by Mark Henderson, these cybrids do live for just a few days, then die, and the stem cells that they produce, which are removed from them and worked upon, are single cells, therefore they have no such monstruous features as those evoked by some in the foregoing comments.

Roberto Ruggiu M.Sc., Roma, Italy

"Today we are succesfull in healing human patients with animal parts, which means one family can keep their loved one without another families tragic loss - Yesterdays Frankenstein is todays Hero

Mariah, Seattle, Wa"

Kudos to you Mariah and to you too Newcastle team! It takes alot more character to strive to do the right thing even though it is unpopular with the religious/political zeitgeist then to fall in with the wailing herd of human cattle. Newcastle team you are truely the creative and the productive; Perhaps among the best humanity has to offer! Be Well...

Kyle, Windsor,

Jane you have just shown that you did not read properly, this isn't about organs, that can be done already and as already mentioned there are people walking about with parts of animals in their bodies (pig heart valves and until the genetic modification of bacterial plasmid ring (the equivillent of DNA) porcine insulin was the only widely available substitute). What is being looked for is the ability to create stem cells, and incidently what do you know about how long those cells can survive or replicate, DNA in both cows and humans are the same four bases and use the same enzymes to replicate.

Finally, for those who call it inhuman, take a walk through a ward of terminal Parkinson's or Alzheimer's sufferers, that's inhuman, forcing another being to go through that in fifteen years time when there is the possibility of treatment that could aid those people. Utilitarianism (dispite what people think it is) is the needs of the many being the greatest good.

Tim Hamilton, Chatham,

Lol...the comments are funnier than the article. First off, if God, Jehova, or whatever you want to call him/her/it really cared, people would have been wiped a long time ago. Second, someone here define what is 100% human? Evolution is a constant change, what is 100% now, will not be in the future, same as 100% human in the past, is definately not 100% now. Third, regulations are not needed. I am all for bending the genetic code. There are animals that have a resiliency to certain diseases that I would love to be bred into "humans". Calling it frankenstein, is a misnomer, as that was modelled as prometheus, creating life from non-life..this is creating life from life, genetic evolution getting a helping hand. For it/against it doesn't matter, it will happen, the choice is whether it is done where everyone can see it, or behind closed doors to which only a chosen few will know or benefit. That choice is Yours.

James, Formerly of Atlantis, North Carolina, US

I think more than just religious folk have problems with the experiments. The fact of the matter is that scientists have apparently successfully created an abomination to Mankind, but seem to think that they're off scott free because 32 cells along before termination isn't as scary as a full grown Minatour. The concept of the animal-human abomination is old, older than Christ, ingrained in the species. These scientists would do well to more accuratly guage the reflexive retching experienced by the population at large, and re-examine the rate at which they 'progress'.

Andrew Stout, New Orleans, USA , Louisiana

I think people have been watching too many Christopher Lee movies.

It seems a lot of people see the words 'human', 'cow', and 'scientist', and then, based on paranoid dillusions and ignorance, decide that the most important medical advancement in history is a circus freakshow.

It's a ball of cells, people! A half-cow-half-human it ain't. We share 51% of our DNA with the common housefly, for Christ's sake. You do more damage to cells than these scientists by swigging mouthwash in the morning.

And as for people saying 'God doesn't want this', I don't mean to bate, but did he tell you this in person? I would like you all to explain to a disabled child why you think this is wrong, given that you have such authority on the subject.

Angus, Montreal, Canada

Better to research the true cause of modern degenerative diseases, rather than apply a weird, inter-species ‘fix’ that could have ghastly consequences.

We’re polluted by man-made compounds that never previously existed in nature, so don’t fit in with the way the biosphere works. We live in a matrix of electronic smog from microwaves, power lines etc. The whole time we get further away from Natural Law. Tinkering with the building blocks of a tried-and-tested evolutionary process does NOT address the cause.

Pete Reid, Sittingbourne, UK

Need more dispassionate infomation:
-possible benefits?...how realistic are they?
-alternative sources of stem cells that are less offensive to many?
-possible hazards?...how realistic are they?
-peer review at regular intervals by cross-section of reputable citizens ?

Mike Lilian, Oamaru, New Zealand

"Much better, in my opinion, to concentrate efforts on global population control; maybe pro-active but certainly by eschewing further medical research and intervention whilst eradicating third world simple conditions/diseases.

Jo, Devon, England"

Well, Jo when the dr tells you your 6 year old has a fatal, non-curable, non-treatable disease you can comfort yourself that his death is population control. I OTOH take no comfort from that. I've watched my son deteriorate these last 4 1/2 years and he will continue to decline going from a bright, active child to a vegetable before death finally takes him in his late teens or early 20's.

This reasearch means hope to children like my son. Children who may one day change the world for better if they get the chance.

Please check out this link http://www.bdsra.org/ and look at the faces of the dead and dying children posted there and then decide if this 32 cell embryo is more important.

Corrina, Chatham, Illinois

The cow Mitochondria DNA (0.1%) cannot communicate with the human Nuclear DNA (99.9%) hence the organism only lives for 3 days, it runs out of energy after 5 cellular divisions ie 32 cells. In other words the organism is not able to replicate mitotically so no organs for the people with genetic disease are able to be harvested from this organism. The scientists have not created this organism for organ harvesting or for genetic experimentation, this would be bad science for the above reasons. This organism has been created so that the effects of drugs/chemicals can be tested on living human beings...human beings from whom the scientist do not have to obtain consent. This is what is so morally reprehensible to the those of us who have consciences.

Jane Campbell, Ballina, Ireland

I think that this is a good experiment. But not if it means abusing whatever comes out of the egg if and when the egg successfully hatches. When you guys do figure this out, treat that animal/human the way that you would treat an actual living being and not an experiment, even though it is one. 'Cause, believe it or not, live experiements have feelings, too.

Emily, Topsail Island, North Carolina,

I would think it would be kool if i could become like Maximum ride and get wings because of the tests they are doing,and be able to fly!!!

but... over all it is really bad to do this because if you have read that book all the scientists are evil and make their experiment do horrorable test because they dont consider them human.

sickos!! if you ever become anything like this i'll sue you all!!!

but it still would be kool as kool-aide to be like angel!!!

Angel, lafayette, Colorado

personally, i do not want a cow to walk up to me and say: i am your equal. life should take its natural course!!! i am not against reasearch that will benefit human kind though.

ema nekaf, washington d.c., russia

I'm torn on this one...As a Christian I have a healthy fear of the "playing God" factor. What comes when research stops and experimentation goes too far? Sure there are laws involved in genetic research but how many of us as children were taught NEVER to play with fire but still burnt a hole in the carpet? My biggest concern is that the draw of the unknown has and will always push past laws and moral boundries.
That said, I am in awe of what medical science has contributed to our world! Without today's technology we would lack countless cures and treatments. My best friend has MS, she is only 27 and takes a drug that contains (CHO) cells. And as a mother I am thankful for the breakthroughs that will provide a long and healthy life for my daughter. Today we are succesfull in healing human patients with animal parts, which means one family can keep their loved one without another families tragic loss - Yesterdays Frankenstein is todays Hero

Mariah, Seattle, Wa

I notice that many of the Americans have got a sense of morality, whereby so many of the British comments have a sense of 'I can do what I jolly well please', pretty much the same pride and arrogance that caused us to wipe out huge populations and invade such nations as America and Australia without a thought for their native population.
Now we go for human/animal embryology. Just how long do we think we can get away with this immorality for.
Honestly, we really are a stupid nation. total lack of wisdom and no love of God anymore.
American friends, please pray for us. We have fought alongside you and you helped us defeat the Nazis, please help us defeat this beast of immorality with your prayers and fasting.

Derek, Spalding, Lincs

The "need" is to preserve the livelihood of all the scientists who have to justify their existence. The same "need" that drives the train in the civil lawsuits, a growth industry that spang up 30 years ago. The same "need" that compels one to buy that new car after the old one reaches its third birthday.

The "need" to fix everything that happens--- everything that is perceived as bad---leads to the "need" to make sure that there is no loser in any children's sporting event. There is a "need" to be politcally correct, right?

Life is about real needs: love, food, shelter, clothing, virtue and propagatiion of the human family.

Trumped up "needs" are really thinly disguised wants:

I wantta be somebody!!!"

So next time you read "need" in an article like this ask yourself the question...what utilitarian is looking after Number one at the expense of Number two? You will find the that humans are considered commodities to those who need to get ahead in their feld.

Mike, Robstown, TX USA

I will only worry when the cow turns to me and says "Am I not a Man and a Brother?". Until then, a 14-day culture of cells is of no more account than my fingernail parings.

Richard Cooper, Dunstable,

I definatly think this is wrong, but I also think that people are getting a little bit out of hand with this whole religious thing. I believe god put us in this world and he will take us out of it and only he has the right to do that. Creating "test tube babies" isn't something mankind should mess with because they have no right to it. I also agree that it may be against the law to put this embryo in a womans body,but that doesnt mean it wont happen... however at the same time I am torn because I understand the need to find cures and medicins to these dreadful diseases such as diabetes.
i dont know if anybody has ever read James Pattersons When the Wind Blows and The Lake House, but the books sre about secret labs creating "test tube babies" and inserting bird DNA to give childer wings. It addresses issues that could very well be true in the near futur and people need to understand that it will not be good for the human population as a whole.
Mutation of Human DNA is bad!!!

Violet, Texas, USA

Oh i just love all these anti-research comments

We're going to make note of all your comments when you need a donor which was created using stem-cells!

David, Wales, UK

I read a book called "Watchers" by Dean Koontz about 18 years ago on the same subject . It scared me to death. I believe that these embryo's have been created for years now for military research purposes, without publicity.
There are some lines you do not cross and i believe this is possibly the most dangerous one.

John, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

This type of research could help my child to live. Do I want or expect him to live forever? No, but I would like for him to have the chance to grow up and grow up healthy. My child has a fatal genetic disease. We learned about it when he was 6 years old. He suddenly went blind. He will be 11 years old next week. He now has seizures, memory loss, difficulty speaking and walking. He will likely die in his late teens or early 20's.

http://www.bdsra.org/ Please take a look at this site and these children. Put yourself in their place, in my place. How would you feel? think you would want to do everything you could to save your child.

Corrina, Chatham, Illinois

I wonder... Is what defines us as human our ever-changing DNA code, so frequently bodged, truncated and fallibly copied over the millennia, or is what makes us human our minds, and the way we behave, think and treat other thinking beings?
If the former, then we are in a state of constant genetic flux anyway, and if the latter, then what does it matter if someone alters a few mitochondrial genes in something which will never become a sentient being anyway? Either way I don't see the problem with this work, which harms no-one, yet could help save countless lives, and improve the quality of life for still more people.
Of course, it may be that what makes us human is our divine creation, and the presence of a bunch of retro-viral DNA in our genomes is clear evidence of the Fall of Man and original sin, I can't make up my mind...
More tea, Vicar?

Ali C, Canterbury,

The main reason for needing hybrids is because there are not enough human eggs donated for stem cell research...which itself raises ethical issues...so scientists are damned if they do and damned if they don't. While countless families watch their loved literally waste mentally and physically before their eyes from some of the most horrific diseases inflicted on human-kind. Should we do all we can to ease suffering and solve disease? Yes, in short. Take a look at the person or people closest - seriously do it - and ask yourself at what point you'd say "nope science is going too far...I'd let you die". As sensationalist as that may sound that's what it boils down to in black and white and no one can argue that point.

Stephen, London, UK

I think people are looking at everything too religously. If man can create life in a dish, to use for research, then let him. Why hinder Man kinds progress foreward because a bunch of people think its wrong.

Steve, anoka, minnesota

Well, interesting -99.9 per cent human!! The article says that they take a nucleous from a human cell to create these cybrids. And then it says they "lived' for 3 days, well what exactly died?
And what will they do to prohibit these 99.9 percent human cybrids from living 14 days to be implanted into a woman? Who wil be able to prevent it?? Certainly not a law.
It says there was one that divided 32 times! It was on its way to being something-well at least 99.9 percent human! and then you take these cybrids which are embryos-99.9 per cent human and derive stem cells from them. Wow and they need them to live 6 days-did I read, "live"? And when they work to where they "live" for 6 days, then the scientists rest the seventh day and bless it and call it holy! Man is desperate to live forever, even if it requires that an embryo-99.9 per cent human will not live longer than 6 days, life for life? But I guess that is a good thing, as otherwise it would grow and become a what?? God forbid!

Judy Allwander, Hoover , USA/Alabama

This is disgusting! These ‘scientists’ are sick, and what they are doing is vile.
It’s wrong, and inhuman.

Laura, Gloucester, UK

Fank Ardanowski:

The article says its 99.9% human....meaning its a small percentage cow....they are already beyond 95%....

derek, los angeles, ca, usa

I want to be a cowboy.

John, Sante Cruz, USA

Forget stem cell research...I'm interested in finding out how them critters taste. I'll take mine medium rare please with a side of mashed potatoes and home-style yeast rolls. MMMM!!!

James, Virginia Beach, USA/Virginia

Even more curious....reports are that it tastes like chicken.

Tom, Atlanta, Ga U.S.

These 'scientists' need to beware playing God. He is watching.

lp, houston, tx

I am so thankful that science only has to abide by the rules of government and not the permission of lay-people. Genetics is too profound a subject and chemistry for such people to pass judgment based or moral unsettlings. The evolution process makes too much sense to ignore, especially when compared to the Magic Beginning in Genesis. Science H. Logic!

Bryan Dickens, Youngstown, USA/Ohio

Are you saying there are those who don't want to play god? Please, spare me.

This is like prohibition. What can't be done in public will be done in private. Make this process illegal and the elites will hire their own scientists to play god and the benefits from it will remain with them. Through directed genetic modification and the infustion of technology these elites, using secretly developed processes because the public made those processes illegal, will become a separate species, Transhumanists.

They're going to first collapse the economy and kill off all you whiners with your petty "morality." Bats eat mosquitos. Bats are in rapid decline due to some strange affliction. Bee populations are collapsing. Food shortages are now. Nuclear world war is being scripted by Cheney and Putin, puppets of the Transhumanists. THEY'RE PLANNING TO WIPE OUT BILLIONS, YOU INCLUDED.

Then they'll live like gods in the aftermath.

Happy day, peons.

George Hayduke, Wilderness, USA

Just as in the days of Noah, there were mixed beings (partial human). And the flood came and swept them all away.
Beware, folks, so it is prophecied that at the end it WILL be as in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot...

Sue E, Minneapolis, USA

Interestingly, the use of hybrids is less contreversial than the usual practise of using discarded (usually from IVF) human embryos to derive stem cells. The use of hybrids would lessen the need to use actual human embryos and so are ethically less contreversial. As the cells have never been fertilised and aren't in actual fact real embryos (they only act like them after chemical stimulation), and the fact that they likely can't in fact develop any further, the discussion on sanctity of life is completely irrelevant.

Emily Murray, London, UK

Now ,this human-animals embryos how long all they supposed to live and what benefit will the reseach have in the feild of medicin?Also will they be transplanted into human bodies and if yes for what benefit to human?All in all success.

KEVIN G MBURU, THIKA, KENYA

all human life is sacred and this is plain wrong! yes, even human life pervertedly created in a dish. it is morally irresponsible.

Joe, tryon, nc

This is GHASTLY, It is too ghastly for words. Perhaps Briton should be removed from the earth for this vile work, I really don't know. It is anti-human, anti-conscience,
and barbaric. I will never think of the UK as "civilized" or "respectable" again. They are sub-human and scientifically cruel to do this ghastly work. It creates revulsion to the depth of my being to hear of this. I pity the people of the UK if this is what their 'scientifc leaders'
feel free to do. I fear for the world because of these UK scientist who will obviously do anything, no matter how cruel or barbaric.
L. Beauchamp

L. Beauchamp, Rockport, USA, TX

I have mixed feelings. Its a small % of human now but what in 20 years when the human part is 95% and just one guy wants to mature it to a full life?

It sounds like the classic camel's nose under the tent.

Fank Ardanowski, Dallas, Texas,

Genetic artists are responsible for a lot of creations that we see... interesting that I just finished reading a book that mentions this same subject: "Everything," by Robert Wood. Not all creations can be explained by evolution or natural selection.

Kimo, Tokyo,

A while ago the Chinese were trying to make a chimpanzee-human hybrid to do all the work, so don't think that mankind isn't depraved enough to do some messed up stuff with this. Suppose the nazis had this technology?

David, Cranston, New England

Jerry in LA – do we also have to agree not to “benefit” from Hitler's experiments on the Jews to know that they were morally reprehensible? And...

Michael in London – your ad hominem attacks (“narrow minded” with “little or no understanding”) don't demonstrate anything useful. Yes, the article is a simple read. And the facts are also relatively simple. They are intentionally creating 99.9% human life for the stated purpose of killing it. I suppose that might be acceptable to some. It is not to me. I am simply against killing people. And you, apparently, are not. And what on earth does “read a book” mean? Is that a popular grade school insult on your side of the Atlantic?

Howard, Rochester, USA/NY

What's wrong with playing God? Nowhere to my knowledge in any religion is there a law that Thou shall not play God. If humans are given an ability to do something than they are by divine right allowed to.

This however does not mean that we can take the lives of other humans. In this case however we are taking the life of a cow. We kill many other animals, especially rodents, in the hope that we can live longer and healthier lives. Why should this be any different?

The only problem I see is that it opens the door to killing actual humans for which I can't find any justifiable cause.

Mark, Providence, USA

To MC, London, Uk,

You say that those who criticize research on the grounds of religion or moral objection need to gain some new perspective. I really think it is the other way around. I don't have a problem with trying to find cures for diseases...im all for it, but embryonic stem cell research is not the way to go and im not basing this off religious conviction. Adult stem cells have time and time again been proven to be remarkably more effective in successfully treating diseases. In fact embryonic stem cells have never ever successfully led to a cure. Learn your facts. Visit stemcellresearch.org.

mike, chicago, Illinois

As long as they don't actually GESTATE the embryo (although I am sure this has already been done, and hushed up) then I don't see it as a problem. It is the advancement of science for the sake of humankind.

But seriously, we don't need any half-Friesian humans wandering around...

Alice, London,

I Can't Wait to Make My Own Milk!!!

Here Comes the Milk Man!!!!

Chris, Hosuton, Texas

well what will that attempt next the bible states in the last day's knowledge will increase but also the lord will not allow this pace to keep up man makes himself like God and tries to duplicate what God himself made look out he's a jealous God & will not allow this kind of thing to continue he's the maker of Life & breath and his ways& thoughts are above ours. your treading on dangerous ground watch out who you listen too but Satan is the prince & power of the air for now & his days are limited carol 0 ny

carol outman, olean , united states new york

Q. What's the main risk of human / cow hybrids?
A. Mootations!

Seriously though, what this debate really highlights is the need for better public understanding of the science involved. This might result in fewer daft, wild, or patently mad comments. Well done the Newcastle team.

Ned , Cardiff,

I am yet to see an argument against this research! Sorry, I did see one here: danger of cross-species infection mechanism- probably highly unlikely, at least during research, but at least a valid type of objection. Otherwise I have only seen mere assertions that it is unethical, but no explanation of how it might be bad. Some claim it is 'the thin end of the wedge', but we should address the bad things themselves, not things that are not bad themselves but could be so perverted - otherwise we ought to scrap all science and technology from Stone Age onwards! And arguments that it will not be any use anyway are spurious to the ethical debate unless there is some harm.

There was also a lot of ignorant comment here, often laughably so; such as fearing a cow with human brain might accidentally develop on the petri dish! However, I might endorse several one-liners that said they 'feared for the future of humanity' - if our debates are no more rational and informed than on this subject!

John Newbury, Solihull, UK

Is it proper to call these "admixed" embryos anything but clones of the single donor? New life is created when there are two parents with commingled chromosomes from both. This procedure seems more like therapeutic reinvigoration for the patient.

Ray, Houston, TX

I'm type-1 Diabetic, this needs to happen. I should be able to receive a freshly grown organ w/out the need of a cadaver, several cadavers, or without a religious group telling me it's wrong. People who are against this process (and my unbiased opinion will state that those who are against it probably have based their opinion on faith not fact) probably don't have Diabetes (and no, Type-2's don't quite belong ont he list), or Parkinsons, or Cystic Fibrosis etc. ie. Anyone who ate anything today is eating food as a result of thousands of years of genetic manipulation. Now we're doing it through a microscope at a cellular/sub-cellular level. My will to survive far outweighs any mis-leading ideals taught to me on Sundays.

Richard Harborne, Vancouver , Canada

I for one welcome our new cow-human overlords.

Brian, Cirencester,

this is utterly amazing!! We need to milk this for all it's worth!!

Scott Williams, Auckland, NZ,

A correction from a few posts down, humans actually have 46 chromosomes. 23 from each parent cell.

This research could be a huge breakthrough in genetics and in medicine.

The only problem is regulation. As someone mentioned before, it would be great if they just used this research for what it is intended on, but the fact is scientists are always pushing the limits. No matter what laws and regulations are set out, eventually there will be implantation of the cow/human embryo in a female.

David, Birmingham,

This could really be a great deal, but could also turn into something that soap and water won't wash off.

J.D. Miller, Sherman, USA

Last night, I was beasting myself into a stupor when suddenly the ANGEL of the LORD appeared before me.

We had a cup of tea and a biscuit (I believe it was an oatmeal digestive), and the ANGEL of the LORD said she was impressed with the scientific advances in stem cell technology currently underway, and not to worry about religous nutters spouting fairy tales.

The End.

alex, bristol, england

Brings a new meaning to the word "chimera"...and the Island of Dr Moreau...I can't wait to see what they'll come up with next!!

T Helmuth, Rogers, USA - Arkansas

This is diabloic, just another version of doctors gone , "mad!"

AnitaK, East Troy, WI

Nik,
You (and the many others saying similar things) don't seem to understand the purpose of the research. It is to study the properties of stem-cells, not to create living hybrid human/non-human animals. Even if this could be done, what would be the reason for doing it? Do you seriously think there is a scientist outside of B-movies that is interested in creating abominations for the fun of it?

Paul Caira, London,

why do people with religious beliefs insist on dictating what everyone religious or not do.

It usually doesn't bother me when people are whining bout jerry springer the opera or what not but when its something which potentially could benefit other suffering humans i find it detestable!

ross, paisley,

They have not yet broken any laws. so you can't take legal action. if you got arrested for using your moble in your car BEFORE the law said you couldn't you would soon complain.

also if there IS a God and if he gets the hump about people playing God, then NOWS the time for him to say something or at least do a bit of smiting.

david, peterborough,

To Margie, Australia,

When you say:

"Just because we are told these experiments will lead to cures for various diseases, does not mean it will be so. How many times over the years have we heard that the cure for cancer had been found, only to never hear anything more about it? Plus what were called breakthroughs in other diseases and ailments?"

what exactly are you trying to say? Scientific research has been pivotal in developing treatments for all types of cancer, increasing the life expectancy and chances of survival of many victims. People infected with HIV can now live an almost normal life span thanks to the development of new antiretroviral drugs.

Allowing the research described in this article to go ahead could, amongst other things, lead to diabetics no longer needing to inject insulin daily. Those people criticising this research and research generally on the grounds of religion or some other moral objection really need to gain some perspective.

MC, London, UK

Someone said those with religious objections should sign a pledge not to benefit from any discoveries made from this research. That's ridiculous. That's like suggesting people who oppose illegally harvesting organs should sign a pledge to never receive transplants. It's one thing for a conscientious adult to donate their stem cells to research. It's another thing to willfully take a human life in order to harvest it's cells or organs.

Ted Cooke, Covington, Washington

I'm Christian, and I think that what the scientists are doing is fine. It's 99.9% human--read the facts. In this age, where we use pig heart valves to replace our own in surgery, can't we use 0.1% of a cow embryo to help our research with stem cells? Some people won't let us use human embryos, so why can't we use cow embryos?

Are we playing God? Not yet. In the future? Maybe. That's why we have to have regulations in place--but not something that totally prevents us from making progress in science by eliminating the possibility completely.

Amy, New York, USA

Fellow humans. Did you know that many if not most human therapeutics are expressed in and purified from animal (sometimes human) cells in a dish (i.e. hamster CHO cells)? No controversy there! Scientists have been introducing genes to cells in a dish that rarely belong to the cell species (ie. human genes into CHO cells)? This is how the blueprint for human therapeutics are introduced to the cell line from which they will be harvested. These "mixed" cells have never suffered the emotive label of "hybrid". It's controlled, they can't grow to form life, nor can they feel (they're often skin, not nerves). Friends, these NEW cells, now made, are immortalized never to be human again, but they are NOT a new "species"? Species can mate. These cells are FOREVER controlled, in a dish, cannot form new life, nor can they feel. No capacity for viable development. Now this new cell line may abolish the need for future human embryos. This little embryo was a hero instead of thrown away.

Kelly Flanagan, La Jolla,

Mooooo!

Gary Stevensen, Shakopee, MN

Yes RIGHT NOW they are limiting the life span and not implanting into humans... but I'm sure most people realize that once you start something, it never stops. Especially with research and experimentation. It will develope into something much more in the future. It starts off small and then explodes into something controversial. As soon as we "lose interest" in this subject, the experiments will push there limits until you see the headline, "Woman gives birth to... Bigfoot??" And hybrids will be appearing all over the place.

Nik, Florida,

Those with religious objections should sign a pledge not to benefit from any discoveries which might result and allow us who believe this is morally proper benefit.

Jerry, Los Angeles, CA

I find it funny that people call this kind of research "Monsterous" etc. etc. It just proves that you are narrow minded and have little to no understanding of biochemistry and your views are narrow minded. Did you read the article? It clearly states that all that is used from the animal cell is the cytoplasm. There is next to zero genetic material in a cytoplasm. As it states, clearly again, 99.9% of this hybrid (maybe it is that word you "don't like") is hum,an genetic material.

if I were to look at the chemical composition on an animal cell and then get the raw chemicals, shimmy them up from start and then put a human nucleoid into this man-made cytoplasm, would you be barking? Sure, it is the exact same thing, but it just came about by a different process.

The fact of the matter is people clearly don't understand the scientific background and start whining about frankinstein. Sorry, no. It is really ignorant to simply write this research off. Suggestion: Read a book!

Michael, London,

Further to stephen Pain's comments. Attending one of my standard genetics lectures at university, my lecturer, a very well respected man of his field, stated that it is his and others belief that the first 1000 year old human has already been born... a scary thought...

Luke, Harrow, London,

Sounds like a good laugh to me. What about cows with human legs, or something like that dude out of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe?

I can imagine this would create a minefield for HR departments.

Rob, Edinburgh,

thats are a great news,a important step to helper several persons with needs.

Hilson M.Breckenfeld Filho, recife, brasil/pernambuco

Medical research one day. Food chain shortly after.

Deb, Kent, UK

Monsterous.

Howard, Rochester, USA/NY

First, I am concerned about the existence of licences before the primary legislation is passed.
Second, in my view, interfering across the species barrier is wholly contrary to nature and can only lead to problems. We need only cast our minds back to the feeding of animal products to herbivores which led to BSE and CJD. The argument, of course, is that the egg is devoid of animal DNA before the human DNA is introduced. However, there is no guarantee mistakes will not be made. In my opinion, the only way to avoid a disaster is to foresee it and preclude it.
Third, I should like to see an end to this total lack of global thinking. We live in an overpopulated world yet we obsessively develop research that aims (we are told) to preserve and prolong human life.
Much better, in my opinion, to concentrate efforts on global population control; maybe pro-active but certainly by eschewing further medical research and intervention whilst eradicating third world simple conditions/diseases.

Jo, Devon, England

i personally think this is a great idea in some perspectives. in the ways of scientific research i think it is fantastic, giving scientists a higher understanding of ourselves and diseases. If there is a chance that we could find cures for such diseases i think it is well worth experimenting for, even if it is a small chance of success.

But as it has been mentioned numerous times in the media this will lead to Frankenstein style experiments. As soon as the military take this process on, if they already haven't, that is when the situation could potentially get out of control. Withing 50 years time we will see a massive change in the social society as we know it now. if all research is approved and carries on at a successful rate god only knows how this will end. Its a hard decision to make, and i personally think it is a decision that no man can make. All research should be carried out under government supervision. This could be the fate of the world and its population as we know.

Ryan Newton, manchester, UK, UK

Why should this kind of research come as a surprise. I mean we already have numerous examples of transgenic animals created in labs worldwide. I think the real test in all this work is whether it actually delivers upon its promise. Here there the record is dismal.

Our future:
In the year 2050 we will surely have designer babies with skin patterns like Louis Vuiton bags, able to jump like kangaroos, life expectation of around 200, and an IQ twice Goethe's. By 2080 most of our brains will have artificial lobes allowing us to live to 500.

Stephen Pain, Odense, Denmark

William, Pearl City, USA/Hawaii says:

"This is th beginning of the end for us. This is the reason God destroyed Atlantis."

Atlantis. Rrright.

"Where do you think the creatures in Greek mythology came from?"

From the same place than Frodo, the Elves, Santa and their ilk: Imagination Land.

Tom, London,

Maxxie, as far as I'm concerned it's abhorrent for two reasons. Firstly, the scientists would have us believe that they know what they are doing, but in fact they are playing with the catch on a Pandora's Box of massive proportions. Secondly, there is no need to do it. The scientists can learn all they need to about genetics by studying any tissue they wish (human or otherwise). We should ask ourselves the question why they need to use/create embryos at this stage of their understanding. It is the flaw of human nature that researchers would rather flounder around in the dark looking for the great breakthrough, rather than progress logically and build on our existing understanding.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

Awsome!
not only will it help cure some diseases but we can hopfully make cow people to do out bidding!
bring on the taurens!

fred, Machester,

To all those suggesting that the scientists have done anything illegal, the Newcastle lab obtained a license from the HFEA to carry out this research, they have done nothing illegal. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is being enacted to put many of the technologies which are currently being used by fertility clinics and labs up and down the country into statutory form. Until it is enacted, the two labs holding a licence to carry out this research may continue to do so.

MC, London, UK

I phoned Northumbria Police earlier today and asked them if they were going to prosecute Newcastle University. Their spokesman said that they had no intention of prosecuting anyone in the university since no illegal act had been committed. If this is truly the case can some wiser head than mine please explain the purpose of the highly contested bill being addressed by parliament? We may as well give the universities the freedom to experiment away to their heart's content. Who the hell has the power to stop them; or am I missing a point somewhere.

Pete, Lincoln, England

Some people have queried about the number of chromosone in these cybrids and its possibility of growing further on. from my understanding, there is a full number of chromosomes in these cybrid cells - they insert a mature human cell nucleus into an 'empty cow egg' (meaning that the nucleus of the cow's egg is been removed). therefore, the 48 chromosomes in the resulting cells will be from the human nucleus inserted. the reason why it is still 99.9% but not 100% is because there are mitochromial DNAs within the cytoplasm of the cow's egg (shell), which provide the energy for the growth of the cells that will eventually be in all cybrid cells within the mitochrondria (energy providing device of cells). so there isn't an actual 'mix' of human and cows chromosomes per se...hope this makes sence

cy, cambridge, uk

"Is this kind of research abhorrent to theists because it undermines their belief in the 'miracle' of life?

Maxxie, Drogheda, "

Basically, yes. But it is a bit more than that. Christians hold man not to be merely an animal that came about by evolutionary chance, but to be a deliberate and separate creation by God, the pinnacle of his creation. If you read Genesis 1-3 you'll get the idea.

As such it is quite wrong that we should deliberately subvert the God ordered creation by deliberately mixing man and animals.

Bishop Dominic Stockford, Teddington, Middlesex, UK

Just because we are told these experiments will lead to cures for various diseases, does not mean it will be so. How many times over the years have we heard that the cure for cancer had been found, only to never hear anything more about it? Plus what were called breakthroughs in other diseases and ailments?
It seems to me that what they want, is the go ahead to do whatever they want, regardless of how badly it will turn out, which it will.

margie , victoria, australia

Heralded as the bringer of cures for mankind. This in a world where only the wealthy can access healthcare and we live with continuing starvation and famine. These issues could have been significantly addressed by the losses sustained in the recent credit crisis and the subsequent injections of taxpayers money to bail out the obscenely wealthy. Capitalism for the many and socialism for the wealthy few. This world is currently led by a small cabal of psychopaths who have no interest in the well being of their fellow man. This research will benefit few and endanger many. Where is the line people, perhaps when we have engineered a subordinate race of lesser humans we can use as slaves. That would be truly good for productivity and GDP. The history of the world begs us to be cautious.

Jonnie G, Melbourne, Australia

This has happened before long ago early history of man. Read the "Earth Chronicles" by Sitchin.

I wonder what Cow/human would look like? Janet Reno?

Mark, Ocean Shores,

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but to create a human being, 48 chromosomes are needed: 24 from a human sperm cell, and 24 from a human egg cell"

People with Down syndrome and other disorders aren't human beings according to your definition.

Chuck, Indianapolis , USA

Is this kind of research abhorrent to theists because it undermines their belief in the 'miracle' of life?

Maxxie, Drogheda,

If most of the people posting on this subject had their way we would still be living in caves and would believe the Earth is flat.

Logic appears to be completely lacking in this debate.

Mark, London, UK

Sounds like 'The Island of Doctor Moreau'.

Two legs good, four legs bad.

However, as it says in the article, nobody is going to grow fully formed human-animal beings with a consciousness (except in some underground lab in Siberia, though thats to be expected).

This is very worthwhile work.

Owen, Nancy, France

This is th beginning of the end for us. This is the reason God destroyed Atlantis. Where do you think the creatures in Greek mythology came from?

William, Pearl City, USA/Hawaii

yes, in one way it is good but i think on longer period of time, the whole world is a clone

lanski, amsterdam, holland

If this does reduce the use of tissue mined from humans then I think it is positive. The mining of human body materials is a great evil and needs to stop. reference:ahcp.blogspot.com
That said, I am a non scientist so I can only take their word that this will be the case. And I am not religious so I am not interested in the veiw of any religious group.
Historically, medical science has done some very evil, inefficient research and gone down some dead ends at humanity's expense. Now people are fearful the worst could be ahead. Dont pillage people's bodies for common use or research and the future of medical science need not be inglorious I think. Human rights are about not using people. Remember this and progress will happen the right way.

sylvia, malmo, sweden

Interesting thing--the need to employ a justification for altering/destroying Human life in this way (i.e. ostensibly to "cure Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease" or to increase the comfort/survivability of diseased persons).

WHY the need to justify?

Perhaps the defensive (though wholly inaccurate) attempts at justification are because:

a) We, as Humans, have, at least to some degree or another, an instinctive regard for Human life, (in all it's stages, and all disquised permutations).

b) The inherent dignity of Human life, which normally causes an instinct to Preserve, is degraded when Non-preserved.

Thus, this degradation requires a Great Reason to overcome the conscience and justify termination or destruction.

Therefore, to bypass this truth, some will attempt to fill in the cavern of moral depravity with a few shovelfulls of something seemingly substantive. But in the end, the cavern still exists.

S, Orangevale, CA

This is wrong in far too many ways.

Chris, Tulsa, OK

An April Fools joke , I hope...

Brian, Saint Louis, MO

I'm all for scientific research, but something about these animal/human combos bothers me. I guess I wonder what might happen if the experiment went awry and they created a cow/human hybrid of sorts. For example, a cow with a human brain. That would be terrible for the being involved.

John, Scottsdale, AZ USA

Jeez what a bunch of whiners. Take a biology class for christ sake and get your noses out of the bible or koran or whatever. You don't have to believe in science, it proves itself.

lee Schmortz, california, USA

Of course, we should advance medicine to help people, but those who do the advancing need to know they are not the only ones who know what a person is and what actually helps. Scientists can be as arrogant and self-important as anyone else. They cannot shroud themselves with impunity because they are "scientists." They are persons, too!

Dennis , Birmingham,

those people who are having a go at the scientists for "jumping the gun", obviously haven't read the article, they got special licenses!
for those who are whining about the depravity of this, i hope they haven't every had any cause to go to hospital, since quite a bit of medical know how have come from the 1700's when doctors went around digging up dead bodies to study, this was also depraved, however look how many lives have been saved since then.
as a christian, for those of you have issues with them playing god, they are trying to improve the quality of life for those how have horrible diseases like Parkinson's, and if god did want these people to suffer, then he is not god, and we need not worry

Geoff, adelaide, South Australia

This is more interesting in that it shows the difference between the "old world" and the "new world" - Europe and America. One would think that America would be the forward thinking and progressive nation but this is just not the case. As a country it is becoming dominated by religeous nutters who would prefer we remain in the dark ages and burned people at the stake. Get a grip folks, we are going to move the game on and regardless of misguided beliefs I wonder just how many of the hippocrites out there would refuse treatment based upon this sort of research if their lives depended upon it. Not many I suspect. If we can gain benefits from this - remove some disease or improve the human body then lets go for it. If I could manipulate my genes to avoid cancer or be stronger or miss out on althzimers then I'd be in the que waiting now. Just like the rest of you as well.

Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK

This is fantastic news for people with awful diseases.

dan, miami, fl, usa

total insanity as there is absolutely no need for any kind of stem cells to come from this mixture.
Embryonic stem cell research has been going on for more than 20 years and had a cure rate of zero.

umbilical cord stem cells,stem cells from the INDIVIDUAL needing treatment has had POSITIVE results and will continue to yield positive results without resorting to creating subhuman animals.

God will not be mocked.

.

salome, nyny,

I'm not normally one who puts the focus on hell, but it's IS a dogma of the Catholic faith. Any who have studied the lives of the saints know that quite a few of them were shown hell/purgatory (i.e, St. Faustina, St. Pio, St. Catherine of Sienna,--for starters.

I do find it interesting that the souls in hell, based on private revelation of the saints, are "human in partial animal form."

My these scientists come to know God's great mercy before it's too late. Furthermore, sin, especially sin as serious as this, has dire consequences upon the world. This is a grave evil. Please pray for all involved.

Nancy, San Francisco, CA

Please say this is April Fools and not reality, Lord forgive us.....

Jonesy, Big Bear Lake, California, USA

This is monstrous. Referencing Orwellian literature was quite pertinent, I must say. We have awakened to find ourselves alive in Oceania, under the watchful eyes of Big Brother and the Ministry of Truth. I have a friend who has been losing his son to AML (a rare form of leukemia) for the last few years. Tell me, is it that scientific progress has brought us to the place where, through our technology and intelligence, we can pretend to help this child by prolonging his death, or is it that we simply haven't arrived yet at the place of total scientific enlightenment in order that we may find a complete cure? Hasn't science done enough? Or could it be that our discoveries and tamperings have produced bizarre mutations much like the admixed example before us, thus ensuring our destiny within the horrific bounds of our own depravity? That the scientists have been rushing their research through ahead of the legislation is proof enough of their motive and their guilt. Monstrous.

Chris, Meridian, Idaho, USA

Don't be afraid of knowledge. Just be aware of where you stand and where you are going.

People are not consoled by the explanation that this work is for the use in prolonging human life and elimination of disease because they see this work as potentially harmful to the human species itself.

Regardless of position, I say to the scientists; 'tread carefully' and keep the people informed of exactly what you are doing and why.

While I am in no way supporting the creation of a hybrid human/animal, I can see how this work is potentially beneficial in the science of cell manipulation.

To those who whine about humans and their fear of death.. last I checked.. every animal on the planet tries to prevent its own death, humans being uniquely in a position that allows them to actually try and do something about it.

Brandon, Seattle, Washington

I try not to be judgmental when a desperate young woman feels the need to have an abortion. I can understand a scientist trying to harvest stem cells from that fetus, even though that goes against my sentiment of being pro-life. Even if I disagree, underneath it all is a logic from a value system that is different than mine. But there is just something horribly sick about gratuitous production of a hybrid animal fetus for the amusement of a mad scientist. As a mad scientist, I have to protest these experiments because it makes the rest of us look really bad.

Dennis, Omaha, NE, USA

What has been done to ensure that this practice of mixing of material from different species in a single cell is not creating an excellent inter-species bridge for diseases such as H5N1?

I think this serious possibility needs addressing and demonstrating that there is no such possibility.

Edwin, Bucharest,

We already have available all the stem cells we need, better ones for disease prevention, from umbilical cords, etc., but because both the press and scientific community want no holds barred on research and open season on ethics, we continue to spend for these useless experiments. If your real issue is to cure disease, use what works. Friends, become educated on the issue and you'll see that this use of human embryos is unnecessary. So why are we doing it? To desensitize us? To say we can? And if it's illegal, why is the law not being enforced, Britain? is this the message you really want to send, that the law is a suggestion to be ignored?

Linda simms, Oxford, CT, USA

When the Nazis carried out experiments on human, it was decried and considered barbaric. These experiments are just as barbaric. There is no more respect for the sanctity of life. An embryo is fully human. Every person on this planet was once an embryo. Would you like to have experiments performed on you or your child?

Michael, Owasso, OK

Say it isnt so, this is disturbing

Kelli, Alexandria, ky

How do you not know that we here on earth are not products of the same type of experiment? Think about it, did a zebra really come from a bowl of earthly soup? Or did a genetic artist design a zebra and place it here on earth? You have to wonder about those flying saucers. Perhaps they are filled with alien scientists from another planet checking up on their experiment! Basically we and the rest of the animals are all biodegradable robots with the same internal operating systems. The genetic artists did quite a nice job I might add. However I would prefer a longer life and don't wish to self destruct after 60 to 100 years. Oh well, I shouldn't complain, I could have been a possum!

Ken , Anaheim, USA/CA

I don't believe in God, and never plan to. Seriously think about the effects this could actually have on the race of humans. I can only say in shame...why? Why do something to “help/cure” in postponing the process of death, and disease? Everything must end. Why are humans’ so afraid to die?

Science is brutally correct. I must ask you to question, is Embryo science a necessity to mankind? I think not. Science without common philosophies is a scientist with a destructive ego...no real intelligence. Science is defiantly good, but this is useless science of a human ego.

If everyone in a human race was free of disease or disability, would we ever have the great influences that we are able to grasp in our society today?

Deanna, Arizona, USA

What a sad sick world we live in.

Goober, Hueytown, Alabama

This is so wrong. What good can come of this?

Michael, Richfield, OH, USA

It is interesting that the story states (almost as an assurance) that it '...is already illegal to culture human-animal embryos for more than 14 days or to implant them in the womb of a woman or animal...'. But of course, these 'legal' restraints will remain as inviolate and timeless as the 'Locomotive Acts' (Red Flag laws) were at the end of the 19th century - and we still operate our lovely motor vehicles at a maximum speed of 12 mph with two waving or red flags at the front. If it can be done - it shall be done, and often. I am as grateful for the fact that I shall not live to experience the questionable 'benefits' of such 'chimera' as would be an octagenerian having just witnessed a speeding benzin powered auto-mobile at the close of the 19th century. No good shall come of either in the end.

Elisha Moor, London, England

It is now that we hear the death rattle of civilization.

Ring the bells of mourning and death of all that is good in the world.

Omeca, virginia beach, VA, USA

All I have to ask is this. Where is the line drawn? Humans can justify anything given enough time. So where is the line drawn? Where does science overstep ethics? Who's ethics? Some individual with money behind a desk somewhere? The collective's ethics? Who holds the standard for the ethics of the majority, or is that just the human idealist's pipe-dream? I don't think we should discredit the world religion's views on these experiments. While I don't think any one group has the market cornered on the mystery of existence--I think that altogether, I'd take their side when it comes to respect for human life, which science, while it can always be justified that their ends will make their means inconsequential--it has done far more in the perversion of life as we know it than any religious group has. But seriously, where is the line drawn?

Patric, LA, California, USA

This also brings up an informed consent issue: Can the person who donated their gametes or body cells for research, withdraw their permission in the case of hybrid embryos?

Susan Fraser, Wellington, New Zealand

Let's hear it for the true "Cowboy"....

I wonder which will be dominant and which willbe recessive...

Will it take after it's MOOOOOTHER?

Talk about udder distruction....

Elsie if it's a girl, Elmer if a boy

I mean... the list is endless....

J. Graf, Dallas, Texas/USA

MJH, it takes 46 not 48 chromosomes to make a human. 23 from the male and 23 from the female.....

dlp, Jacksonville, FL

As a scientist, I ave spoken to many myopic people about the so-called "moral issues" of this kind of research.

If they had their way, well, I won't go down that road -- it is far too long.

Maybe they need stem cells from cows.

Bob Nelson, Jacksonville, Florida

A cheek-swab provides these cells for study already, especially with the development if induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). This is a perfect example of scientists playing with toys and trying to convince you of their validity so you'll give them more money and toys.

Minerva, Hammersmith, UK

John, Jacksonville....by your argument, then murder is OK too, since God gave us the brains with which we figured out how to torture, maim, and kill one another.

Sam, Buffalo, NY

As per Japanese Whalers .. all in the name of research.

leon, Singapore, Singapore

hahahaha aprils fools -.-

Adam, Cherryville,

Good grief! This is Frankensteinian. There are many other ethical experiments for these diseases that can be done--such as adult stem cell, cord blood stem cell, etc. Some people would be willing to experiment on and kill others to save themselves. How horrid!

Anne, Milpitas,

One question; Why do this?

Paul, Cape Canaveral, FL

Man has gone too far..

M.K., Allen Creek, MS

So, Des,

What species were you when you were that size, if you weren't human? What's the scientific name for the process that made you "change" into homo sapiens?

I guess 25p isn't money either, because 25 million pounds is? Is that how the reasoning goes?

Kevin, London,

Seems I read in the Bible this exact senario, The End IS near!! You are all fools to play GOD!

JJ, Kalispell, mt

a modern day cowboy.

charles, jackson, wy

When you play God you anger God! Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Bill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ultimately this kind of research will do more good than harm.
I am perplexed by the negative opposition people have for this type of study. We must not fear what we dont know.
May we soon find a cure for the many illnesses that affect millions of mothers, fathers, sons & daughters.

Luis, Los Angeles, CA

this is hardly news. it was done over 60 years ago when hillary clinton was born.

donna joyce, stuart florida, USA

Yay! We can finally live side by side with minotaurs. Oh... and create a new form of mad cow disease which will easily infect humans ^.^

Sean, Red Hook, NY

An abomination. 'The Island of Dr Moreau'. The planet 'Ix' in the trilogy 'Dune'. All examples of combining humans with animals. Outlaw it before it becomes reality.

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia

I hereby show my 100% support to the scientists research on admixed embryos and stem-cells. Today's 14-days restriction imposed by the law is too short and should be extended to 140 days. Further, I believe scientist should be allowed to replant this back in, at least, animals. Destroying these cells after a period is NOT the same as killing the human because it has not yet developed into what should be called a human. Given that I am myself a postgraduate Physics student who belives in research in nuclear fusion (although it's not my area) for tomorrow, I equally share the view on the importance of the breakthrough that our colleagues working in biomedical sciences must make - this indeed is admixed embryos and stem-cells. I suspect that if we make a survey on this particular issue, most of those who disagree with this research will turn out to be non-scientists,

Nyein Chan, London, United Kingdom

As with all scientific progression if it can be done it will be done. That is the nature of humans. Research like this will help cure us from the diseases we suffer today. I am in total favour of doing this with the limit of 14 day embryos.

I wish people would realise the fact that a 14 day embryo is not human. It is not thinking, it has no pain, no feelings, its not yet developed enough to be alive.

Toughen up.

darren, sydney,

Didn't GOD give us the knowledge and power to do what these gifted scientists are doing? If your mother/father (better yet, your children) were dying from some horrible long-drawn out disease, you wouldn't want all resources exhausted? Be real and think about that question? I challenge anyone to honestly say "No" they wouldn't want their child saved from a horrible, painful, drawn-out death.

John, Jacksonville, FL, USA

Is this a new meaning for "cowboy"?

C. Peyton, Cypress, TX

I'll sign that now dear Charles.
Pending death, chronic disease, or even a poor quality of health though unfortunate is not meaningless and without it's own value in the lessons of life. Medical breakthroughs can indeed be marvelous, but crossing ethical life lines because one's willing to do anything at all to improve one's own health, is even more unfortunate. Putting aside moral objections, nature itself will eventually or even sooner show the error of these experiments. There are natural consequences for contrived unnatural acts. And with that I send my warm regards to all the wonderfully flavorful people of the planet, and plan to keep us all in my prayers. Peace Mia

Mia, Beacon , USA

Hmm. Sounds like a girl I used to date.

Jimbo, Chicago, IL.

Jane has it pretty much right. You English are ahead of us in religious progression (i.e. less of you believe in a god), but judging by some of these responses, you have your zealots too, and it is sad such people are drawn to such inconsistent and harmful beliefs by (usually) their own parents.

Jack, University of Florida, USA

"It’s a laboratory process and these embryos would never be implanted into anyone."

I'd bet good money that, somewhere in the world, it's either already been done, or at least attempted. You'd have to be extremely naive to assume the "research" will stop there.

Disturbing to say the least.

Joe Gigantelli, Ewa Beach , Hawaii, USA

Correct me if I'm wrong, but to create a human being, 48 chromosomes are needed: 24 from a human sperm cell, and 24 from a human egg cell. This cow cell, into which the nucleus of a human cell is inserted, is not a fertile cell. It can only grow for a specific number of divisions before its energy is exhausted. It does NOT appear to be a fertilized cell capable of dividing almost infinitely and ultimately producing a living baby.

Now: the Roman Catholic church, and other religious bodies (the RCs don't hold a monopoly on ethics and morals by any means) hold that conception, or fertilization of a female egg cell by a male sperm cell, is the beginning of human life. If this is so, then what is the argument about? The scientists have not attempted to fertilize a human egg cell with, for instance, the sperm cell of a chimpanzee to create a fully new hybrid animal.

This is for research, and the new cow/human cell is not an individual person.

MJH, Miami, Florida USA

I see that the National Institute for Coordinated Experiments is up in running in Oceana (formerly Britain).

Alwin Ransom, St. Annes-on-the-Hill, Llogres

God help us.

edwina , vancleave, ms

Those with religious objections should sign a pledge not to benefit from any discoveries which might result and allow us who believe this is morally proper benefit. I object to some religion being applied to me.

Charles Pooley, Mojave, CA

The gods are going to take revenge for messing with their handiwork.

Deacon, Grants Pass, USA, OR

I wonder about cross genetics and the chance of new diseases occurring from the tampering.

There used to be a period of study before the exposure of new science to the world; To prevent public alarm or to determine long term dangers.

Either the media is over estimating the science, or our scientists are no longer being careful.

Joseph, Cincy, USA

The slippery slope. "Cloned calves that produce human antibodies in their blood have been born in the United States. The four cows have extra DNA which contains the genes for the part of the human immune system that makes disease-fighting antibodies. Scientists believe cows could eventually be used to produce medicines to treat multiple sclerosis, infections and even cancer. Human antibodies have been produced in mice before, but cattle are bigger and make more of them. The work was carried out by researchers in the United States led by animal cloning pioneer James Robl. The former Professor at the University of Massachusetts was the first to clone a transgenic cow in 1998."

PLavender, Rochester, USA/NY

Sick!

Warren Wilson, Kirkland, USA/Washington

So the jist of this is that it's all OK because we kill them at 14-days old? We're creating life that is, for all intents and purposes, fully human (99.9% human at least), and then we just kill it and it's all OK? Isn't that 99.9% human essentially a human being--i.e., a person--with potential to grow up, walk, talk, read, write, think, sing, create, love? Just because it's in a hollowed-out bovine ovum doesn't mean we can treat it like a hamburger patty. We can kill it at 14 days and nobody cares? Does nobody see the problem here? We shouldn't be doing this at all. It is now possible to get pluripotent, nearly-embryonic stem cells from adult skin cells among other sources, with no ethical complications. Why then are we creating life and destryoing it for the sake of harvesting its parts? Could greed and grant money have something to do with it?

John S., Vienna, VA, USA

This is a giant leap towards curing awful diseases. God wouldnt have it any other way.

Ryan, Las Vegas , NV

This truly is reaching into the very depths of depravity.

Jim, London, England

Des from Edinburgh doesn't appear to understand the ontological definition of a human being as used by Cardinal O'Brien and appears to have just a utilitarian concept of what a human is. That said, this type of research is poor from a scientific point of view because the essential components driving the cellular division process come from the cows mitochondrial DNA, which are unable to communicate with the human nuclear DNA this explains why only 5 mieotic divisions have been achieved by the Newcastle group. The cells have quite simply run out of energy. This type of research has not, and will not produce any benefits to human kind, unlike adult stem cell research which is ethically unproblematic and is already producing cures and hope for hundreds of people around the world.

Jane Campbell, Ballina, Ireland

I don't know Cardinal Keith O’Brien's work but he is absolutely correct. These are the first steps in creating the Frankenstein Monster, or monsters..... we learned in the 20th Century that just because we could blow up our enemies with nuclear arms doesn't means we SHOULD. In the 21st Century are we going to lose sight of that by allowing scientists to decide that since they CAN do something insane the SHOULD do it? If so, The Frankenstein Monster is sure to result. And how much of humanity will be destroyed by it?

steve, Miami, FL USA

This brings depravity to new heights......I mourn not only for UK but for all of us....

TJF, NYC, USA

I thought this was made illegal. IS THIS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF LABOUR BREAKING ITS PROMISES.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

God have mercy on us. British scientists: you have crossed the line.

Mary Louise , Morris , MN

Des in Edinburgh said:

"This egg certainly does not contain a human being: to call its contents a human being would be to call a speck of dust a brick. "

No, it would not be the same because a brick is not a life. That you would equate an inanimate object with embryonic human OR animal life is rather chilling, and very sad.

And, Ann, I agree...I pray for England also...and for the U.S. and really all of the western world as we move progressively closer to full realization of the culture of death and total denial of our Creator.

Phil, Nashville, TN, USA

Perfect...I always wanted to see a real-live Minataur

Mamdouh, burnaby, Canada

i mourn for you, England.

Ann Landell, Reno, NV

So they'll do what they like regardless of legislation.

Paul, Coventry,

If cow's have human DNA, is it wrong to eat steak? That would be tragic.

nate, Dallas, TX

It is good to see that The Times is using an image which reflects what an admixed embryo actually is. This egg certainly does not contain a human being: to call its contents a human being would be to call a speck of dust a brick.

I congratulate the scientists involved in this much needed research; and I hope that the unjustified outburst by Cardinal O'Brien does not stymie the development of treatments for serious medical conditions.

Des, Edinburgh,

EVERY BIT of this was predicted in the "Animals" episode of the Chris Morris series "Brass Eye"! Essential viewing!

Pogue Mahone, Dublin, Ireland

Hold On ! There's a bill going through parliament supposedly being debated to see whether this is desirable or not. These 'scientists' have jumped the gun. They should be prosecuted for illegal activity - not to mention ignoring the wishes of a democratically elected institution. Sheer arrogance!

Steve, London, UK