I don't know what all the fuss is about. The religious nuts say we are playing God. What's the difference between this and getting a heart transplant? Who thinks that is "natural"?, or how about a blood transfusion, or using pig valves in human hearts? My sister in law has one.

Im all for it.

chris, Aberdeen, Scotland

Im not agree, what if those scientifics make a human/animal like the movie "the island of Dr Moreau"

Paola, Mexico city,

I can agree with this research to kill off arthitis and whatnot. But what if it turns into a whole new genetic altering society?
One day we'll see people flying around in the air from their new wings genetically altered into the subject from bird DNA.Now the question i have is, how far is this goin

David, Marlborough, Massachusetts

i love brie and stem cells

Phil, PAris, France

What I find amazing is this.
What amazing discoveries & cures that will benefit mankind have been made using embryonic research?
mmmm.... let me think
Even 1, surely there must at least be 1.

And the answer remains as no.
All of us who were allowed to be born used to be embryos. We went through all the necessary stages a human being needs to go through from the first stages of life until there death bed. These living cells are toys for people masquerading as scientists. They say, think of the valuable research and benefits it will have for our society. We know through research that nothing significant has arisen that could not have been found through some other means & what I find even more disturbing is how so many of us have just accepted this absolute drivel thats its alright to do experiments on embryos. They are not human.
All who favored slavery were free, & all who favor embryonic research were born & thats how oppression works.

The biggest holocaust the world has ever seen.

Xander, Glenrothes, Scotland

Jem - agree entirely. Still, I'm glad the fundamentalists feel then need to share their views with the world. It's brightened up what would otherwise have been a dull afternoon. Keep the comments coming!

Ian, Leeds, UK

oh, dear.

mengele, dr moreau, brave new world, atlantis, revelations, nephilim stargates, frankestein's monster, slippery slopes.....

are you people completely mad? thank god (well, not literally, as he's a figment of our overactive imaginations) none of you lot is in charge of anything.

incidentally... "shudders"? shouldn't that be shhh...... udders!

someone should keep you epsilons away from the keyboards.

jem, london, uk

It might help if the debate was not so staggeringly ill-informed. The "99.9% human" figure contains a suggestion of a slippery slope whereby more and more of the genetic material was taken from an animal. In fact, it is 100% of the mitochondrial DNA and 0% of the nuclear DNA. And if you don't know what that means, go away and find out before you have the temerity to comment on scientific issues you haven't taken any pains to understand.

It might help if science journalists rehearsed some of the science when publishing under crude, controvrsial headlines.

Jason, Essex, UK

God forgive these scientists, because they don't know what they are doing!

Mark, Maidstone, UK

Where are the environmental groups ? (Paid off to stay quiet !) They should shouting from the hill tops ! This is the REAL environmental crisis. What happens when the new life-forms are released into the biosphere. Google monsanto and the decimated bee population...

Tim , inverness, uk

Another one for lying politicians who said they would not allow this monstrosity to happen. I Gordon a christian or a devil?

steve, chester, chester

''administrative error''
''halted until further notice''
bahaha
Yes im sure someone will accidenlty trip over, and implant the embryo -_-

Think about other issues.
..........................

recycled water eww i cant drink that!

check this for a topic ...ninemsn.com ''Should we kill all sharks?'' (so that humans dont die from shark attacks)

Hey how about this... "should we kill all humans to reduce global warming?"

WOW

Nick, brisbane, QLD

Any who oppose this - don't worry we won't let them cure you when the research is done.

K, Smalltown, USA

Absolutely horrific.

Someday soon, unthical scientists WILL secretly implant one of these in a womb just to see what will happen. Eventually, these WILL get into the gene pool, creating potentially horrifying effects for all of humanity.

You know it will happen, even if it's an "accident". And after they get away with these experiments, they WILL argue for permission to legally grow these monsters to maturity.

Remember Pavlov? Governments are eager to create the perfect killing-machine soldier (like the Star Wars clones) or the ideal docile "citizen" who will never question authority or care if it is kept as a slave.

It is all coming soon unless good people demand a full stop to these gruesome experiments. Demand action from your MP. Do a Youtube video. Tell your friends. Don't ignore this threat to all humanity.

What sort of world would you like to leave for your children? A world of biological horrors?

Keep humans human. Shouldn't be even a debatable concept

Keep Humans Human, On the moor,

This experimentation, inevitable as it may be, is wrong. There is a slippery slope we are stepping on to and soon there will be human chimeras fighting for equal rights.

Gary, Victoria, B.C.,Canada

News in the not too distant future...."An administrative error at a fertility research institute has tragically led to the implantation of a human/cow hybrid embryo in a human womb. Ethicists are currently debating the moral and legal status of the fetus. All government funded fertility research has been halted nationwide until further notice."

Mike, USA,

I love the Nexus 6 comment from Kranky Vet USA.

PAUL FROM SHEFFIELD! Did you shine your big black boots and press your medium gray uniform with crisp red arm band this morning?

Steve , Ipswich, UK

Relax. You'll soon have passed away from old age. The World will belong to who remains alive. Embrace diversity.

Mike, Victoria , Canada

Americans don't realize that Bush only stopped funding not the actual research. If it was profitable all the big firms would be doing it. Its not that far yet so they still need endless government funding. This isn't Revelations, if you think that you need to re-read revelations and put down the left behind series. (He doesn't have a single biblicaly correct thought in any of those books.) Don't forget we used to think the earth was the center of the universe.

Justin, Ann Arbor, Michigan

I'm thankful that there are governing bodies out there that are significantly aware of the fact that we need to research new methods out there and leave religion out of the fray. Seriously, I read some of the responses up here, and you're right, the Christian coalition that is rampant in my country is sickening. I am all for stem cell research because of it's incredible possibilities. Good luck.

Mike Avella, Albany, NY, USA

What a sad symptom of the - in 30 years you'll be ruled by Islam

Abdul Haq, London, UK

I notice the US christian fundamentalist taleban are out in force, as is usual whenever there's an article about stem cells. Or any one of half a dozen other subjects that they seem to think(?) are best left to their iron age mid east version of god.

paul , sheffield, uk

What we need now is Dr. Moreau to lend us his, "house of pain" in case any of this gets out of hand.

Jerome, Hunt Valley, MD / USA

Why not just merge a human and a jackal to create the anti-christ and be done with it.

Louis, Arlington, VA

Barbarous. Unspeakably vile. H.G. Wells' 'Island of Doctor Moreau' has become a reality. God help us all.

Bosco, Bantry, Ireland

This is an OBSCENE TRAVESTY!!! This has NOTHING to do with "science". There should be stiff international penalties for this kind of work!

To say this is for the "betterment of mankind" is, in itself a disgusting and inexcuseable vanity!

This should be a crime and those "scientists" who engage in this kind of "research" should receive maximum punishment for their crimes against God, humanity and nature.

Tobias, Houston, USA

Pssshhh, If god was very, very annoyed, he'd have toasted us all a long time ago. He's just chilling up there, watching us like a sitcom. I bet we're hilarious.

Dan, USA,

Its been being done for years. They have just gotten good enough at it now to go public. You are already riding the bus with hybrids. God is very, very annoyed.

Escapee, Oak Ridge,

I dont see what the big problem is. We allow people with severe mental or physical handicaps to be born. I think that's pretty cruel, no more cruel than chimerical people, even if that is possible.

m, austin, tx

This is very cool and I hope it proceeds well beyond what they are doing now. The people who are scared of it do not understand what this is and how it works. All of the naysayers here would probably have been scared of the first light bulb. Let's just keep it privately funded.

Greg-USA, USA,

This is just CRAZY!

Barbara Tiemeier, Lake Jackson, Texas/USA

i think its awesome, i want a manbearpig when they make one. Who said science isnt cool.

kyle, soldonta, alaska

Hmmm, anyone ever read Revelations? Scorpions with the heads of men???

Jarred Vincent, TUCSON, Arizona

god sucks...lets give humans a chance at creation...maybe we can get it right!

Jesse, Cedar Rapids,

Nephilim Stargates: The Year 2012 and the Return of the Watchers. Read this book and then read this column again.

::SHUDDERS::

B, Pasco, Wa

Thank God the British government has the guts to perform the genetic research that could save millions if lives. American scientists can't thanks to reactionary conservatives who don't understand the issue.

Alex, Green Bay, WI, USA

Egads! We can now rename the British Isles the Isles of Dr. Moreau.

DavidC, Middletown,

Mooo

svenski73, Fort Worth,

And I though the "The Island of Dr. Moreau" was far fetched when I read it as a kid. I have to admit that the whole thing sounds like a bad idea to me. I just hope there are no bad consequences.

Pete, New York City, USA

Armageddon is right around the corner.

Jasper, Seattle, Washington

<i><b>If you don't think somewhere in a secret place scientists haven't ALREADY let some of these "cows that are 99.9 % human" develope into a fully formed, birthed and raised "creatures", ...............you are living in never never land.

onetone, Dallas, TX</i></b>

Or at the very least, you're not living in Dallas, TX

Shawn, glen allen, Va., USA

I guess in the future you can literally say she's having a cow! By the way, I read that a prominent scientist discovered that stem cells can be harvested from human cells. Why are we such so eager to experiment with or destroy a human embryo? Even if they found the cure for cancer with these cells the liberal will still insist on using human embryos.
Peace!

Angel, Pa,

The world is speedily coming to an end. Get ready for judgement day

M, kansas,

Humans are just another animal species anyway.

Rob, Dublin,

That whole story is hideous. The stem cell scientists are going into an area that President Bush had the guts to deny USA mad scientists. Nazi German scientists attempted the same and probably led to more diseases than cured. Mad Cow, bird flu, swine flu. Is it only by chance that AIDS was thought to have been caused by sexual exchange of an ape with a woman. Thereby, unleasing one of the plagues that will not go away. History is repeating here. Only someone in an ivory tower could think this is good news.

Rose Howlett, Oklahoma City, USA.Oklahoma

Why in the world would anyone want to do research like this? paging Dr. Frankenstein!

Kathleen, Sacramento, California, USA

To quote Roy:
"How long before someone decides to go all the way and let the cells grow to a fully fledged hybrid?"

That's probably one of the scientists first milestones.
Island of Dr. Moreau, here we come.

Dan, Mesa, AZ, USA

Remember the story of the tower of Babel? There is a deep truth buried in there, the validity of which transcends religious beliefs or the lack thereof.

Nicholas Kallay, Sun Lakes, Arizona US

Hopefully, soon, Roy, as we continue to usher in a new age on the planet Earth ruled by our HYBRID OVERLORDS! ALL HAIL OUR MANIMAL SUPERIORS!

Frances, Wales, UK

What if the cow could talk, or had human features? How about a man with cow skin & horns/hooves? I shudder at the thought...

TonyDDT, costa mesa ca, ca

it looks to me like the island Dr. Moreau. Yup, it's going to be that, the Matrix and Planet of the Apes all rolled up in one.

there is a saying is easier to destroy than to create. these people may not be happy with there own existance.

luis, new york,

Absolutely Monstrous!

Delle, Merrick, N.Y.

The slippery slope begins... expediency in the name of progress is not always a good thing, but for moral relativists there is no value on anything except profit.

Marilyn, Cincinnati, USA

Somewhere in some secret lab, there probably already exists a pathetic half human/animal.

Tom, Washington, DC, US

Why don't they use the animal like humans that I meet everyday in my life? Surprise! Nature has already done this gene mix!

Mosie , Oakland, california

Scary. Have these alleged "scientists" no shame?

Have they no dignity to even small pieces/parts of human being?

Leave our DNA/genes alone!

woodrow , Hudson, OH, America

The first "end of the world" came when the human species was being physically corrupted by angels taking wifes for themselves and having children who were hybrids. That brought the flood. God wouldn't stand for it. He didn't then, and he won't now.

Stacy, Lyons, US/Colorado

Will the human "donor" gain financial profit if a cure is found?

Will that human's genes be patented if a cure is found?

Sounds like we might want to take this more slowly and think about its repercussions.

N, Chicago, IL

Welcome to the Island of Dr. Moreau!

TJ, Alameda, CA

Of all the knowledge on this planet... can they not find another way????? What the HELL

Angie, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A.

30+ years ago I read the prophet Edgar Cayce tell about Atlantis & their breeding of hybred humans - said many Atlanteans were being reincarnated at that time. Check out his info on a search engine. Huxley's Brave New World will unfortunately become a reality!

ART DeANGELIS, VA BEACH, VA

When the world needs a good monster story look to England. You can always count on the British to push the monster motif.

John, Fairfax, VA

Will it taste like chicken?

Jeff, Austin, Tx

Gives a whole new meaning to "eyes of an eagle"

Mike Roth, Seattle, USA

I AM LEGEND!!!! I'm really scared of what they will be!

sherri, palm desert, California

disgusting, absolutely sickening! isn't there another way!?

k, pittsburgh, pa

They made a movie in the 50s called "THE KILLER SCHREWS", about mad scientists fooling with nature. Maybe these men will come to a similar end.

Phil , Perry Hall, Maryland, USA

I'm crossing my fingers that this will work and offer my DNA to get myself 99% cloned.

It will be fun having me as a pet. I hope is that I am a good pet and I listen to myself when I tell me to get off the table or stop peeing on the carpet.

Marcus Allen, Portland, OR

God help us. This is all a slippery slope. Where does it stop? What safeguards are there to stop an unthetical scientist from creating a monster, just for fun? God help us.

Lowell Bethel, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

These already exist. The are called "Republicans". They have even obtained language skillsand the ability to minipulate physical objects with opposable thumbs.

Jay, Bellingham,

If one of these embryos did develop fully, the result would be entirely indistiguishable from a human, the only part that will be of other animal is the energy producing organelles within the cells, even they would be practically the same as human ones.

Adam, Sheffield,

How long til Nexus 6 ? I'll have the standard pleasure model.

Kranky Vet, San Francisco, USA

This is extremely irresponsible of the British government or any government to proceed on this. What's going to happen to a half human/half animal 'thing'. What kind of life? What kind of monster? Stop playing God because You Ain't It.

Jenna, Sacramento, CA

Don't worry, scientists say they won't create chimeras. Just a few centaurs, harpies, ipotanes, lamias, manitcores, satyrs, nagas, and maybe some sphinxes just for good measure. :)

Krellan, Castro Valley, CA, US

Now where is Josef Mengele when you need him? I'm sure he could come up with all sorts of creative things to do with the embryos.

Cody, Grand Rapids,

Come on people, this is nothing new. We've been performing human sacrifice for thousands of years. It's just a new god, and a lab instead of an altar.

Think, Holland,

Freak-science advances! Insane. Shameful. Britain is racing to disaster. Great country destroying itself from the inside.

Mary , NY, NY

Call me cynical but there is more to it than just research into diseases.

I do not want a hybrid; next they will create super human beings that look like cows.

stephanie, UK,

I want to see hybrids!

Andrew, ARLINGTON,

Humans are funny creatures. Look up to the sky and realize how small you are. Open your minds and accept your small existence is a speck of dust in a vast ocean of possibilities

A, NY, US

If you don't think somewhere in a secret place scientists haven't ALREADY let some of these "cows that are 99.9 % human" develope into a fully formed, birthed and raised "creatures", ...............you are living in never never land.

onetone, Dallas, TX

Does someone who is 99.9% human deserve human rights?

Larry, Seattle, USA

If you don't think that somewhere off in the boonies, in a secret compound, scientists haven't ALREADY done this, letting the "thing" grow into a fully formed, birthed, and raised 99.% human "cow" ..........then you are living in la la land, and you need to wake up. the only reason for going through the house of lords or congress is to "legalise" the practice to make it "acceptable" and no longer "hidden". Thus making it a practice that can be more widely done, even if more "restricted" for the public. That way scientists can have more freedom, and go public with their findings.

onetone, Dallas, TX

"Revelation 9:7
I was always taught that this might be helicopters but now I dont know."
It's a fairy tale...

Atheist, santa cruz, CA, USA

Creation of Chimeras would be BAD. There is NO END to the evil that would occcur if this were to happen.

Lester Phillips, Trona, CA

Good!!! The US won't allow any kind of embryonic stem cell research because of all the "religious zealots" and the Bush administration (Bush has twice vetoed federal funding for embryonic stem cell research) so perhaps other countries will do the necessary research which our brightest and best scientists and researchers say is so promising in helping to find cures for chronic diseases and disabilities to help improve the lives of those already here.

Tammy, Lawrence ,

sick.

bob jones, Frankfurt, CT, USA

Cool, I always wanted to have my very own pet gargoyle!

Richie, US Gulf Coast,

Personally I've always had a thing for mermaids

Old Salty, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

"The shape of the Locusts was like horses prepared for battle. ON their heads were crowns of something like gold. and their faces were like the faces of men.
They had hair like womens hair and their teeth were like lions teeth."Revelation 9:7
I was always taught that this might be helicopters but now I dont know.

Harvester, neartheriver,

yay - I want one!

how much will they cost??

Dave, Ipswich, UK

How long before someone decides to go all the way and let the cells grow to a fully fledged hybrid?

Roy, Scunthorpe, UK