Chimera is pronounced with a hard "C". It's NOT "sh". It's "K", followed with long "i", like in the word "kite." Ki-mirror, is the way to say it.
What is it? Chimeras are animals (and that includes human beings) with a combination of organs from other species. Think Frankenstein. Think again. Many people have received replacement heart valves made out of pig or cow tissues. This is a type of chimera.
Researchers use animals for medical study. If a pig could provide a heart, kidney or liver, a human life would be saved. This is a good thing.
What could go wrong?
Think Frankenstein.
Pope Francis is said to have blessed some of the research. The technology could be used for unethical practices. Imagine a human brain inside a pig. A pig brain inside a human. Human embryonic stem cells put into animal embryos to create a chimeric animal.
Has your stomach turned, yet?
Let us pray that this new biomedical research remains in open interaction with ethicists. It is a challenge, but human dignity has to be preserved.
What is it? Chimeras are animals (and that includes human beings) with a combination of organs from other species. Think Frankenstein. Think again. Many people have received replacement heart valves made out of pig or cow tissues. This is a type of chimera.
Researchers use animals for medical study. If a pig could provide a heart, kidney or liver, a human life would be saved. This is a good thing. What could go wrong?
Think Frankenstein.
Pope Francis is said to have blessed some of the research. The technology could be used for unethical practices. Imagine a human brain inside a pig. A pig brain inside a human. Human embryonic stem cells put into animal embryos to create a chimeric animal.
Has your stomach turned, yet?
Let us pray that this new biomedical research remains in open interaction with ethicists. It is a challenge, but human dignity has to be preserved.
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