Scientists Create Sheep That Are 15 Percent Human 475
anthemaniac writes "Professor Esmail Zanjani and colleagues at the University of Nevada-Reno have created sheep that are 15 percent human at the cellular level. Half the organs in the sheep are human. The idea, of course, is to harvest those organs to transplant into human patients. From the article: 'He has already created a sheep liver which has a large proportion of human cells and eventually hopes to precisely match a sheep to a transplant patient, using their own stem cells to create their own flock of sheep.' One scientists worries, however, that the work could lead to new viruses that cross from animals to humans."
This worries me (Score:5, Funny)
I'm more worried ... (Score:5, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
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Re:This worries me (Score:5, Funny)
it is admittedly disproportionate representation, since the true believers are still checking the Bible to figure out which of the Internets to sign up for.
Re:This worries me (Score:5, Interesting)
And it's true. Mostly, atheists are talking to each other when making logical arguments against religion - mostly to provide each of us with "make the proseltyzer feel stupid so he'll leave me alone" ammo.
Most of us realize that you'll drop the imaginary friend in your own time, or maybe you won't; either way, nothing we say will change it. For that segment of us, it's to create a bullet-proof anti-preacher sheild. What fun is it, for example, to be told you're going to hell if you don't have a good argument as to why hell probably doesn't exist?
That said, the majority of us aren't really looking for an argument. We know arguments happen; we're quite outnumbered in the world, and it's very hard to keep the fact that you don't actually believe in God to yourself. You know. It comes up - and nine times out of ten, when it does, you end up getting the third degree by someone who was satisfied with 'Because God made it that way' for their whole lives or the 'flavor of the month' theist who is newly converted and wants to share (read: force) her new insights with you. Initially, argument prep is self-defence, though it often migrates to preemptive defense and outright flaming.
We should be more mature than that, and in fact, most of us are. It's just that, like any group, you get the teenagers and the adults who never left high school who are so damned sure of themselves that they can't be bothered to respect the choices of others.
I try to reprimand my fellow atheists occasionally when they step out of line; responses to insane proseltyzing that includes threats of damnation don't get rebuffed, but once in a while you'll get the genuinely curious question about atheism and the vitrolic atheist auto-reponse - and I'll shoot that down every time.
I can't moderate all the 'fuck God!' posts. I'd go crazy. But I just want to let you know that most of us aren't actually like that. We're good, normal people who just happen to not believe in a deity or deities.
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FUCK GOD! Real geeks who want an imaginary friend believe in the Invisible Pink Unicorn.
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Sheep shagger jokes... (Score:3, Interesting)
Does this mean sheep shagging is no longer bestiality? OTOH, if it is human, a sheep dies long before reaching the age of consent so you'd get in trouble for sex with a minor.
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And 15% screwed-up.
Re:This worries me (Score:5, Funny)
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Sweet! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Sweet! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sweet! (Score:5, Funny)
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At the same time the letter of the law application of stem-cell research regulations, w
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Keep them separate and you end up with on-demand organs which will save many lives.
Re:Sweet! (Score:5, Interesting)
They feed chickens to cows, cows to chickens, fish to both, and GM corn with antibiotics to the chickens in the first place. The food chain looks like a fractal, not a line with humans at the top.
This won't fuck up the food chain any more than we already have.
And if I was dying (at a faster rate than the default) then I'd try out any new thing that could give me hope or maybe help out some other folks after me. So what if I have a sheep's liver, a robotic heart, and an embedded neural stabilizer?
Re:Sweet! (Score:4, Interesting)
I totally agree, which is why I'm a Vegan. I switched about a year and a half ago and have since lost 70 pounds (I started out at 240) and my cholesterol and heart rate are down the line perfect. I'm not a PETA supporter, I still wear leather, I can not stand most animals and for the most part am just an average Joe. I'm not a Vegan for the sake of the animals, I'm a Vegan for my own well being.
The book at this link: http://www.drfuhrman.com/weightloss/about.aspx/ [drfuhrman.com] convinced me to become Vegan. If you are having any health problems (like sleep apnea or type 2 diabetes) you should run, not walk, to amazon.com to buy that book (I think you can get it used for under $5), it will change your life.
There is a lot of confusing information about diet out there, this book cuts through all that and basically tells you what's up. I want to walk up to overweight people and shake them and say "There's a better way! Read this!"
To end my commercial (for which I get paid nothing) I'd say: It has a very "Hack your body" feel to it, which is perfect for the Slashdot crowd. He goes into the details of the numbers of calories, nutrients, protein, fat, sugar, etc. It's an amazingly fast read, especially for a technical person.
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I'd love to be able to read about this kind of research, happy that its being carreid out with the right mot
What would be the name of this new subspecies? (Score:2)
Sheman?
Humeep?
Pheeps?
!5%.... (Score:3, Insightful)
And yes, I'm aware that "unalienable" is wrong, but it was good enough for the Founding Fathers, so it's good enough for me. Grammar Nazis can keep their mouth shut.
If the far pro-lifers can be taken at their word.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Boy is this one going to piss them of no end...
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And please, would someone get these scientists (and the politicians/corporations who are supporting them) to watch Clonus [wikipedia.org]?
Re:!5%.... (Score:5, Insightful)
These sheep are not 15% human, there is no such thing - they're 15% antigenically identical. There is no percentage at which they will become human, because their basic structure is still of a sheep!
Yes, 15% (Score:5, Insightful)
These are not hybrids or the result of genetic engineering. They are chimeras: Organisms composed of two separate clone of cells. Some of the cells are 100% human, some are 100% sheep. The total animal has 15% of its cells being 100% human (surface antigens and all), not 100% of its cells having 15% human traits. (The immune system matured in the presence of both so it doesn't attack either.)
The cells are in coherent lumps, too. Entire organs - including the brain - may be 100% human tissue. (Though they may be morphologically similar to the sheep equivalent because they were exposed mainly to sheep growth factors while forming.)
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-Rick
Don't give them brains... (Score:2)
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Simplifying double negation.... Done.
So we should give them brains, then?
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Can you imagine a sheep looking up at you through the fence and saying "Are you my daaaaaddy?"
It's enough to drive you maaaaad.
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(I gotta stop feeding this damned horror flick habit, I really do...) /P
Re:Don't give them brains... (Score:5, Funny)
I'm getting really ticked off at the whole "Baa means no!" crowd.
Science and Sensationalism... (Score:5, Interesting)
How to flirt with the sheeple (Score:5, Funny)
Just 15%? What do you say we make it 20?
Re:How to flirt with the sheeple (Score:5, Funny)
Just 15%? What do you say we make it 15.2% ?
Fixed that for you...
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Sheep-Human disease transfer? (Score:5, Interesting)
I believe there's already been at least one fictional book on this topic already. Ah, here it is. [scottsigler.net]
Ryan Fenton
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Chimeras... (Score:2)
This is just a fruitcake-land idea... chimeras are BAD BAD BAD
At what percentage.. (Score:5, Funny)
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Yes, but as we discussed, those were pig and dog genes.
Sheep are more relevant (Score:2)
It's already been done. (Score:2)
no patents for this one... (Score:2)
side of apple sauce? (Score:2)
Sheep (Score:3, Insightful)
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream."
shoot, it's already been done (Score:2)
but seriously, folks, back when men were MEN and sheep ran scared... (obvious king/subjects/fleecing joke goes here)
I don't want 15% human content in my supper. (obvious online sex site joke goes here.)
-0-
can ANYbody take this seriously?
This is a good idea, BUT . . . (Score:5, Insightful)
Or would the left wing animal rights naked PETA supporters be pissed off that you're raising innocent animals for the sole purpose of slaughtering and harvesting them for their organs,...
On the bright side, we might have actually found an issue that both the left and right wingers actually agree on!
Meh (Score:2)
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Scientists Create Sheep That Are 15 Percent Human (Score:2)
Sheeps with four nipples (Score:2)
brings new meaning to (Score:5, Funny)
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"And With Help From the Transpecies Movement, Mary Became a Little Lamb"
In all seriousness, Sheep get prion diseases, which advance rather quickly. Am I going to have to be ready to put down my coworkers due to Scrapie [wikipedia.org]?
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Bow-chicka-bow-wow!
Actually, if "lamb" is not gender specific then would it be "lesbeeaaaan" or change to "A little lamb had Mary".
Still, Bow-chicka-bow-wow!
Hardly Impressive... (Score:2)
Hannibal Lecter thinks otherwise (Score:2)
What about cooking and eating those organs?
THE most important question related to this topic! (Score:5, Funny)
And don't go looking at me like it hasn't crossed any of your minds!
No, the important question would be (Score:2)
Re:THE most important question related to this top (Score:4, Funny)
Even better - it's now possible to only be 85% pervert!
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"Ok kids, guess which part is people!"
Well, (Score:2)
woohoo!!! (Score:2)
Yeah, but WHICH organs? (Score:2)
Deeply touching (Score:2)
That's going to hurt (Score:2)
What? I can't believe this! (Score:2)
*sigh*... I am so disappointed in you people.
No probaalem. (Score:5, Funny)
Coincides with release of "Black Sheep" nicely. (Score:3, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sheep_(2007_fi
"There are 40 million sheep in New Zealand....and they're pissed off!"
Vik
The question, as always... (Score:2)
Meanwhile... (Score:2)
Politicians are busy trying to create people that are more than 15% sheep...
At this stage, it is uncertain who has made better progress, but it's not looking good for the scientists...
Infectious disease research! (Score:2)
But, more seriously, the species-crossing virus is a problem, but it also is a good thing. Right now we have lousy animal models for AIDS and leprosy. If we could get animal models for these, it could be a great help in finding a treatment for them. On a purely creepy level, you can give a 90% human sheep drug-resistant tuberculosis and treat it, while you can't do tha
oh god (Score:2)
Brutal (Score:2)
fucking brutal society.
The Real Question (Score:2)
Didn't I see this... (Score:2)
Two genes good, four genes bad! (Score:2)
high quality/low maintenance wool! (Score:2)
out of order? (Score:3, Insightful)
We should not become what we fear the most, movies like the Matrix where humans are harvested sounds very dark for most among us, why would we do the same on partial sheep/partial human chimera? What makes us have that right anyways ? All in the name of science? ok, we need to improve and survive but why not do it on a less risky way?
Nature always finds a way to survive, what if this sheep gets loose [apple.com] and interbreeds, gets >15% human? What if it does not comprehend our actions against its sisters? Does it get civilian rights if it gets to a certain amount of humanity?
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Re:Now all we need... (Score:4, Funny)
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Who's to say that God didn't do it "because he could"?
-Rick
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Re:Human arrogance towards life and God (Score:4, Insightful)
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My question is, does that mean that gophers and moles and such are off limits?
Oh yeah? (Score:2)
The Bible XOR Vegetarianism/Veganism (Score:5, Interesting)
"And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. A nd there came a voice to him ``Rise, Peter, kill and eat''." - Acts 10:11-13 [blueletterbible.org]
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils: Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." - 1 Tim 4:1-3 [blueletterbible.org]
Where in the bible does it say not to do this? (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm agnostic. I think if there is a God, he doesn't give a rat's ass what we do. If he did, he would have made it a whole lot clearer. He wouldn't have just had humans write what he said in a book
Re:Where in the bible does it say not to do this? (Score:4, Interesting)
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If your contention is that diseases are mistakes, then can you explain the ones that aren't our fault? Did your God accidentally create them? And if so, doesn't that put the lie to his
no offense (Score:2)
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I think your argument is a few thousand years too late.
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Because I'd eat a sheep but wouldn't eat my mother?
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