Mix Master Def Gene

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WARNING: This column probably will disturb some people, unless you are like me have been disturbed for years. Seriously. It talks about some topics that some folks will find beyond revolting.

Ya been warnt.

For those of us in Science Fiction, the writing and consumption of it, the idea of humans and another species interacting on a very personal level is a common theme.

you saw this coming. Right?

Don't look at me that way. Spock, in the Star Trek series, was half Vulcan and half Human. OK, so Vulcans are human-looking, but doesn't change things. But you don't have to go outside the solar system or even this planet to find that kind of stuff. Piers Anthony even writes about it in his Xanth novels.

Is it right to mix human DNA and DNA from other non-humans? Before you answer that, let's walk down this road a bit.


http://uk.reuters.com/article/2009/01/09/science-us-gtc-atryn-idUKTRE50873T20090109

That's from 2009. In addition to that, other scientists are working on ways to splice human and animal DNA to get animals to humans that produce things like human blood, human organs and so forth.

Not just bacon! Possibly part of your physical heart some day.

Before you get all hepped about that, transplanting pig parts into humans has been going on for a while. Yes huhn. I recall when I was in high school, research doctors implanted a baboon heart into a an infant. Some folks in my class went ballistic. Myself, I had no issues with it. It was an attempt to save the little girl's life.

What about getting this a lil closer to home. Human and chimp DNA is close enough so that the two could probably breed and produce a successful offspring.

Have I disturbed you yet? Gets worse. While this is sometimes a thought experiment in college classes, at least one young lady want to try it for real. No. Am not kidding.

http://www.radiolab.org/2008/apr/07/

It's in those archives.

The lady in question was finally disabused of the notion. Prior to that, she said she'd carry the fetus to near term and then have an abortion.

French sculpture.

The question I have is: has this already been done somewhere?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/21/us-science-animal-human-idUSTRE76K7Q220110721

Telling quote: "Chinese scientists have already introduced human stem cells into goat fetuses and U.S. researchers have studied the idea of creating a mouse with human brain cells - though they have not actually done so."

A distant cousin?

"Not actually done so" at least as far as we know. Dunno about you, but I absolutely do not believe our government will tell me the truth. Private labs have even less reason to step forward and expose their research.


Human, chimp and bonobo DNA according to the most recent study I can find is 95 to 98 percent identical. Close enough for cross-breeding.


Another for-instance, human and celery DNA is 40 percent or so identical according to what I've read. I am certain some cross breeding has taken place there and I point you to Washington D.C. for the empirical evidence.


Now that you're thinking, what would a Human-Chimp hybrid be like? A Human-Bonobo?


Chimps are far more vicious than bonobos. They are also cannibals, go to war, plan and carry out raids and attacks. Bonobos, in contrast, take out most of their aggressions with sexual behavior.


Both are proven to be self-aware, inasmuch as we can define and determine it, can think, reason and plan ahead.

Humanzee? Chiman?

Most DNA scientists already think pre-Historic Europeans cross-bred with Neandertals. (Again, I can point you to some people whom I think prove this one too.)


Lest you think merging DNA with other creatures is something that you would never participate in, I remind you of a cold virus. It invades your body, takes over your cells and then replicates itself in your cells, creating more virii. Some of 'em even hijack part of your DNA to create an entirely new virus.


While I'm here and leading you down paths of wonder, lemme sling one at you from far left field.


Chimera. 

Mythical chimera. A blending of different critters.

Ever heard of a human Chimera? I read about 'em many years ago. I heard about 'em again on RadioLab.


The idea is two eggs are fertilized in a woman. Within a few days, the two blastocysts merge. Slammed together so to speak. The two then develop into a single human being. But! Part of blastocyst 1 develops part of the body while blastocyst 2 does other parts. Two completely distinct and separate sets of DNA in the same person. One set may make the kidneys, another eyes. B1 the skin. B2 the brain. And so on.


Follow me? What was meant to be two separate and distinct people instead becomes one.


Now here's m'question. A lot of people believe life begins at conception. If you accept that and the notion that a soul takes up residence at the same time (a religious concept shared by many religions), then:

Does a human Chimera have two souls?