Political/social foo: human life, now with cows

[alpharaposa]

UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing human DNA with cow eggs.

The question of whether or not mixing human DNA with any other DNA is okay is a sidelight to the ethical decision made by the research scientists already- that it is okay to destroy embryos with human DNA in them for the purposes of research. With this decision, it is then okay to create embryos for the express purpose of destroying them for research, and the animal solution makes the creation easier. Any objections are from people too squeamish for science.

If it is immoral to destroy human embryos for pure research, then it is immoral to destroy 99 percent human embryos for pure research. And if it is immoral to destroy those embryos, then it is immoral to create embryos solely to destroy them.

And if the whole damned thing is immoral, then why are you worrying about whether or not cow is involved? And if it's all perfectly fine, then what makes humans different from cows bred for slaughter?

Comments

[prester-scott.livejournal.com]

Shut up, you backwater fundie! Why do you hate Michael J. Fox and Christopher Reeve? Next you'll be denying our children the right to blond hair, blue eyes and perfect teeth!

[stryck.livejournal.com]

And Christopher Reeve will walk, just as soon as scientists figure out that whole "bringing people back from the dead" part.

[prester-scott.livejournal.com]

Which surely they will. Our science can solve any problem! If we can dream it, we can do it!

[elusivetiger.livejournal.com]

If we can dream it, we can do it

Wow, you've channeled Epcot!

'Horizons' theme song:
If we can dream it, then we can do it,
yes we can, (yes we can.)

If we can dream it, then we can do it,
yes we can, (yes we can.)

Have you ever looked beyond today, into the future?
Picturing a world, we've yet to see.
The wonder of finding new ways,
that lead to the promise of brighter days.

Have you ever dreamed the dreams of the children?
Just imagine the magic, their minds can see. (if we can dream it).
Horizons, all shining and new, (shining and new).
Horizons, where dreams do come true (they do come true).

And it will be, a future filled with care.
For you and me, a world we all can share.
For today holds the challenge to make this world a better place to be.
New Horizons, for you and for me.

[elusivetiger.livejournal.com]

It sounds so harmless when put that way, doesn't it? ;)

[prester-scott.livejournal.com]

Just so.

Note the overtones of humanism and blind optimism.

[zeeth_kyrah]

They're worrying because they don't want to "lessen the dignity" of humans - or rather, they don't want to raise the dignity of animals. I regard chimaeric hybrids as a natural consequence of deepening and broadening our research into genetics, and worth pursuing (starting by crossing non-human species until we can grasp the basic principles and not have to kill off so many monsters).

After all, what makes humans different from any animal (I ask rhetorically)?