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Article published Oct 16, 2007
Neither man nor beast

October 16, 2007

Bill Saunders - Fact, it has been said, is stranger than fiction. And fiction can be pretty strange. Take, for instance, an 1896 novel by famous English thinker, H.G. Wells, "The Island of Dr. Moreau." As one can see from the date of its publication, the book was written on the threshold of a new century, and Wells, famous as a "futuristic" thinker, was trying to look ahead.

The novel continues to fascinate readers, and has spawned three films, including one of the same name that starred Marlon Brando in 1996.

The premise of the novel is that a scientist, on a secluded island, undertakes experiments to combine humans and animals. One might call this simply a wild and crazy idea, but a harmless one for a novel, an idea producing plenty of chills and thrills for readers and for moviegoers. After all, it would never happen in real life.

Well, hold onto your hats. It is about to happen. Not here (at least, not yet), but in England. On Sept. 5, a government agency (called the Human Fertilization and Embryology Agency or HFEA) decided to let scientists, mad or otherwise, create human/animal hybrids. Let me repeat: Science fiction will become science fact very soon; and man and beast will be combined into one.

A bill will be introduced in the British Parliament this fall to make this a positive right under English law, rather than simply the consequence of an administrative interpretation (which the HFEA issued). It is likely to pass, but even if it does not, the administrative interpretation of the HFEA will permit creation of human/animal hybrids to go forward. And go forward it will, for this is no hypothetical possibility — two teams of scientists have already applied to the HFEA to create human/animal hybrids.

The HFEA spent a lot of time in making its decision in drawing distinctions between different kinds of human/animal hybrids — cytoplasmic hybrid embryo research (the creation of cybrids), hybrid embryo research (the mixing of animal and human gametes), human chimera embryo research (human embryos with animal cells added in early development), animal chimera embryo research (animal embryos with human cells added), and transgenic human embryo research (human embryos with animal genes inserted during early development). All five create a living thing that is a mixture of man and best. Still the HFEA was at pains to note it only approved one type, the creation of cybrids. What"s a cybrid?

To create a cybrid, it is necessary to use the most controversial technique in research, that is, cloning (sometimes called "somatic cell nuclear transfer"). A scientist must take an egg (sex) cell from a female animal, remove its nucleus (where most of its DNA is stored), and replace it with a human nucleus; then give it a jolt of electricity and, as did the creature in "Frankenstein" when struck by lightning, "it lives." It literally comes to life.

Careful readers will note I said "most" of the egg cell"s animal DNA is removed. However, there is also DNA in the egg cell outside the nucleus (in what is called the cytoplasm). It is a small bit, but it is important, and plays a crucial part in the development of every living animal and person.

To sum up, after this procedure, there will be living human/animal hybrids, part man, part beast, in England, and very soon. Call it a cybrid if you wish. I call it a nightmare, and no civilized country should permit it.

Why will England permit it? Because it will enable scientists to do research. But does any kind of research justify creation of such monstrosities? Perhaps it is better to forgo certain kinds of research if they can only be conducted by such monstrous means.

And here"s the kicker: There"s nothing that prevents this from happening in the United States, or rather, in individual states that choose to permit it.

What would such a future hold for us? You might want to go to the video store or the library to see what H.G. Wells thought would happen when we forget the fundamental principle of scientific research: Even scientific curiosity must be ruled by ethical principles and by common-sense restraint. In cases where it isn"t, as with human/animal hybrids, fact becomes, indeed, stranger than fiction, and more dangerous to us all.

Bill Saunders, a lawyer, is senior fellow and director of the Center for Human Life and Bioethics at Family Research Council.