The Arezzo Chimera, 4th century B.C.A chimera is a single hybrid organism composed of cells that have different embryonic origins (Nagy and Rossant 2001). For example, a human cardiac patient receiving a pig valve replacement could be considered a chimera, of sorts.
I was inspired by a recent ethics lecture by Dr. Robert Streiffer from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He discussed attitudes toward chimeras, including the fears that some people have about the technology going too far.
Pictured above, is an experiment in which investigators tried to fabricate an external human ear using the mouse as an "incubator" (Cao, et al. 1997). It looks fairly gruesome at face value (pun intended, as usual). Hence, it has a "yuck factor" that may make it unpalatable to some people, simply due to its appearance. Yet, when you consider that this experiment may lead to novel ways to repair tissue damage in humans, one would hope that the potential benefits would outweigh the yuckiness.
Aural atresia, from e-medicine.com
8 comments:
back ears are so last year....
KEvron
can they do this?
KEvron
I've no convictions one way or another about this sort of thing. There are so many aspects to discuss (let alone resolve).
I'd much rather end with a pun but I can't think of a worthy one right now. So having nothing funny to say, here are some serious thoughts prompted by your last two para's ( and I don't think or expect you to come up with a definitive response to this in this forum, or at all for that matter--I've no fixed opinion myself--just asking for some expert noodling on your part).
Here we go:
If a human child is born missing an external ear isn't that tough luck?
Why should we humans interfere with a natural mutation?
Is our ability to interfere with natural mutation "natural" and therefore consistent with nature rather than being "interference"?
And why do you have to make me think so hard about these things? If I gave a damn about football and basketball and baseball I would'nt be asking these questions!
Oh, and what are you wearing? A lab coat? Is it starched? Is it tightly cinched around your waist or sort of free-flowing, a little loose perhaps, just draped over you, simply hinting at your...
SCIENTIFIC INTELLECT!!
Sorry about that, most unprofessional of me. I'll just go count flagallae on a paramecium okay. Pretend I'm not here.
5th Estate--
If a child is born with a mutation, it is "tough luck". But does that mean we shouldn't also try to develop the best strategies for treating the disease, using the amazing medical technology available to us?
If there is something that we can do to alleviate human suffering, the better question is "why not do it?"
I'm wearing a smile. :)
And I assume what you have on is just the radio (AAR perhaps)? :D but be that as it may..
What boggles my mind is that as humans we get to shape not only our world but the world's of other sanimals. In other words humans have become a force of nature---not as a seasonal bloom but as a constant like gravity and sunlight.
The notion of suffering is not exclsively human it has been observed and recorded in other species regardless of anthropomorphism. For humans to let "nature take it's course would be antithetical no only to humans, but to many other higher species and even many lower ones.
The big issue imhop is the consequence of our actions as a species. Other species may not have such awareness but we definitively do,
I totally agree with you, why not do it? And yet what of the balance? How many people can this planet sustain. If we rescue every child that would in a purely darwinian world perish aren't we sowing the seeds of our own destruction as a species? On the other hand if we as humans accept that we are masters of how we propagate, then we , and not imagined gods, determine our future and the future of everything about us. We then are responsible for what we do. If we on the one hand create mutations through pollution, on the other hand we should correct such mutations.
If we can create our own suffering, we can mitigate too.
For me the big issue is responsibility. If it weren't for the responsibility of scientists I would have been dead 8 years ago.
Very interesting questions No 5, so much so that it drew my 'ear back' for a second listen. Consciousness exists across species as you say. For me (but I would be interested in other responses) 'Consciousness' is quite complex.
Basic consciousness itself could be defined as the ability to react or respond to say, a stimulus, i.e. an amoebae to a poke. If so, it is not clear what the distinction is between that and a rock splitting under the blow from a hammer, for me however.
Some primates, not exclusively human primates have been able to demonstrate consciousness of themselves - self referencing consciousness. A chimp given a mirror, once it 'understood' the mirror's reflective quality, started to position itself so that it could get different views of its butt, something it hadn't ever seen before. Or a gorilla once taught some hand signs, started to use them in creative, 'un-taught' ways to state something new about what it wanted. This sorta self referencing demonstrates some sorta awareness of 'self', seeing one's self, referring to one's self.
As humans (and again I would argue some animals) are aware of 'other'. Many types of pets are aware of their master/mistress, aware of friend or possible foe. Humans are aware of other self-referencing beings, like themselves, if this attempt to communicate here has any value that is.
We are also contextually aware, of our environment, even if that awareness is just used to pump more oil from it.
This little model assumes or leaves unquestioned this issue of the actual content of these different 'levels' of awareness, the question of correct or accurate awareness. The thing that has always struck me about the human experience is that we all think and believe certain things to be true AND we all think a little differently. So how do people who believe their truth, live with other people, who believe their truth which is often not only different, but contradictory? Many times it is through the exercise of power, imposing their truth fascistically, or through the power of the majority, etc. Or through exclusion, or through inclusion …
For some there is a Meta level of consciousness, wherein we are all connected, consciously. Many spiritual paths talk about actually experiencing or living from this 'place' … What a wonderful compelling solution to the differences that plague us.
Well more to say on this subject that you raised so effectively, but I must run now to another eye operation … It is no. 8, No. 5 … or my 8th, 5th … 'See you' on the other side …
Snerd
Gonna have to buy the cat some sneakers - for him to creep up on this mouse...
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