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Scientists to create 'frankenbunny' in big research leap
Last updated at 10:22am on 05.10.06
Rabbit research: Experiments could day one cure Alzheimer's
Scientists are planning to create a "frankenrabbit" by fusing together human cells with a rabbit egg.
It is hoped the "chimeric" embryos, which would be 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent rabbit, could lead to breakthroughs in stem cell research which could one day cure diseases such as Alzheimer's or spinal cord injury.
The embryos will allow scientists to perfect stem cell creation techniques without using human eggs.
"If we learn how to do this with animal eggs, we should be able to have more success with human eggs, and I'd much rather know that if we were going to ask women to donate eggs that we were very likely to get stem cells as a result," said Chris Shaw, at the Institute of Psychiatry.
"We know this is a huge challenge after Dr Hwang in South Korea failed to get stem cells despite having 2,000 human eggs."
Teams in London, Edinburgh and Newcastle are to submit application to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority this month, requesting licences to create embryos that will be 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent rabbit or cow.
The HFEA is encouraging the applications after legal advice. The embryos will be allowed to grow for only 14 days, at which point they will be cells smaller than a pinhead.
Reader views (8)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
There are thousands of abortions every day in North America alone. We should be using those perfectly viable stem cells that otherwise go to waste to use for testing. Throwing Rabbits into genetic code that might go into humans doesn't sound like a good idea to me. We're not as smart as we think.
- Dan, North Carolina, U.S.A.
We have progressed so far in medicine in my life time it is unbelievable. I hope they continue this work. The niegh sayers will undoubtly critize the work or the motive for the work, but I'll bet they accept the benefit of the research without a protest. I believe the average life time will hit 90 before too long.
- Shane, Boise, Idaho
This is a new low. The 'franken-scientists' aren't remotely interested in the people who get Alzheimers. They are only interested in money.
- Martin, London, UK
Totally for this idea. It is bizarre though that they chose rabbits and I would love to know why. As much as I hope they have great successes I do worry what this inter species genetic mixing may produce in the way of side effects? Will we create some sort of human/rabbit flu pandemic with our meddlings?
- Lugger, Finchley
Although inintial reactions may cause you to think, this is morally wrong and we should not play god,having worked in medical research many years ago i am of the firm believe that any thing that will apease the suffering that certain diseases bring to the individual and family members can do nothing but good.
- Karen Vinyard, worcester
When it comes down to it we are given the choice of either creating stem cells from human embryos or non human. "Aborting" a human embryo to get at the cells has caused such controversy in the recent past that this seems like a reasonable way forward. There is no way anyone could object to the destruction of a mutant half human half rabbit embryo.
I hope they get permission to do this and go on to unwravel many of the mysteries this science presents us with.
- Chris, London
This is disgusting and I think it should be illegal. What they are planning on doing is creating "chimeric" embryos, which would be 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent rabbit. If it is 99.9 per cent human this is HUMAN testing on embryos, therefore it's breeding humans to test on. I feel sick and upset at the thought of it. We should not do this morally.
- Germaine, Tottenham, London
Human cells with a rabbit? It sounds grotesque, but I am behind this one hundred percent if it helps with research and can find a cure for diseases like Alzheimers..
- Issy, West Ham
