The Chimera Dilemma Manifested in Sheep 433
Rollie Hawk writes "While many limits on stem cell research exist in the United States, scientist are finding wants to straddle or at least blur the line between man and animal. It's not quite The Island of Doctor Moreau, but it's bringing a pantheon of ethical dilemmas, nonetheless.
The creation of chimeras, named for the mythical beast composed of parts from several different animals, has been in the news off and on for the last few months. The latest case involves around 50 sheep said to possess at least partially human organs.
These heavily modded sheep are growning human-like organs such as livers, hearts, and blood. All of these could eventually be close enough to the real thing to be harvested as replacements parts.
If that doesn't shock you, consider one other human organ that is being grown in some of these sheep: human brains. While it is doubtful that anyone would want a brain transplant from a human-sheep chimera, it does hold the possibility for doing brain research that would never be allowed on human beings.
That is, unless, the brains end up being too human. Just the possibility of a human mind bouncing around inside a sheep's head is a scary proposition."
Bird brain (Score:0, Funny)
A problem? (Score:5, Funny)
"Heavily modded sheep" (Score:4, Funny)
Didn't we already do that? (Score:5, Funny)
Cannibalism (Score:3, Funny)
If I slaughter and eat one of the sheep am I guilty of cannibalism?
Human brain? (Score:3, Funny)
Hard to Imagine... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Why is this scary? (Score:1, Funny)
It does explain a lot though (Score:5, Funny)
While it is doubtful that anyone would want a brain transplant from a human-sheep chimera
It would explain how the Patriot Act and the DCMA got passed.
Ba dump bump! Thanks, I'll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waitresses.
sheep with human brains (Score:3, Funny)
If you kill it, it'll stop creeping you out by talking.
Anyone remember the song, "Cows With Guns"?
Re:"Heavily modded sheep" (Score:4, Funny)
"Yeah, I was like, takin' mine down Central Ave. and this cop, he just came outta nowhere, man. He could not even keep up, and its a real good thing I put the air dam on the rear end, cause the tail kept flyin' up and I hit the hill at Brisco, and nearly lost it totally."
"Modded" was a bad choice of words. Now I have images of blue neon trim and all sorts of flashy bling bling on the farm...
Re:Nah, not scary (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Cannibalism (Score:5, Funny)
-Ab
Same thing we do every night... (Score:5, Funny)
OK, I can just see it now:
"Same thing we do every night, Pinky, try to take over the" [splat!]
Re:Human brain? (Score:3, Funny)
Skittles: Taste the creepy rainbow (Score:4, Funny)
Available on their site, quicktime or windows media: Taste the sheep boys [skittles.com].
I miss the beautifull surreal skittle ads, the creepifying ones don't make me want to eat their stuff: I might get the same horrible nightmare vision they do.
I know! (Score:3, Funny)
Stupid editors
As the fine folk at fark.com observed... (Score:5, Funny)
Sheep with human brain (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A problem? (Score:3, Funny)
Just kidding of course, I don't have a g/f let alone a wife!
Re:Didn't we already do that? (Score:0, Funny)
"overly too much"? wtf?
Re:Won't make a real human. (Score:5, Funny)
The voyage is long (Score:3, Funny)
Re:"Heavily modded sheep" (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A problem? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Human brain? (Score:2, Funny)
Absolutely. For example, there must be new sauces that can be developed.
The real threat (Score:2, Funny)
brain transplant, please (Score:3, Funny)
Disaster (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Honestly ... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:"Heavily modded sheep" (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Human brain? (Score:2, Funny)
Clever Sheep (Score:2, Funny)
Rustic -- Afternoon.
City Gent -- A lovely day isn't it.
Rustic -- Eh, 'tis that.
City Gent -- You here on holiday or...?
Rustic -- Nope, I live 'ere.
City Gent -- Oh, jolly good too. (surveys field; he looks puzzled) I say, those are sheep aren't they?
Rustic -- Ar.
City Gent -- Yes, yes of course, I thought so...only...er why are they up in the trees?
Rustic -- A fair question and one that in recent weeks has been much on my mind. It's my considered opinion that they're nesting.
City Gent -- Nesting?
Rustic -- Ar.
City Gent -- Like birds?
Rustic -- Ar. Exactly. Birds is the key to the whole problem. It's my belief that these sheep are laborin' under the misapprehension that they're birds. Observe their behavior. Take for a start the sheeps' tendency to 'op about the field on their back legs. (off-screen baa-ing) Now witness their attempts to fly from tree to tree. Notice that they do not so much fly as...plummet. (sound of sheep plummeting) Observe for example that ewe in that oak tree. She is clearly trying to teach her lamb to fly. (baaaaaa...thump) Talk about the blind leading the blind.
City Gent -- But why do they think they're birds?
Rustic -- Another fair question. One thing is for sure; a sheep is not a creature of the air. They have enormous difficulty in the comparatively simple act of perchin'. (crash) As you see. As for flight, its body is totally unadapted to the problems of aviation. Trouble is, sheep are very dim. Once they get an idea in their heads, there's no shifting it.
City Gent -- But where did they get the idea from?
Rustic -- From Harold. He's that sheep there over under the elm. He's that most dangerous of animals, a clever sheep. He's the ring-leader. He has realized that a sheep's life consists of standing around for a few months and then being eaten. And that's a depressing prospect for an ambitious sheep. He's patently hit on the idea of escape.
City Gent -- Well why don't you just get rid of Harold?
Rustic -- Because of the enormous commercial possibilities should he succeed.
Re:Cannibalism (Score:2, Funny)
I'm sure someone already said it (Score:5, Funny)
Re:A problem? (Score:2, Funny)
With a retainer and braces, you could have a beautiful smile in no time.
Re:Cannibalism (Score:2, Funny)
I don't know, but the pillow talk certainly is much better, now.
- Anonymous Sheep Herder
Re:A problem? (Score:4, Funny)
Was that after you smiled or when you started talking?
Re:A problem? (Score:3, Funny)
to be honest diane, i was surprised.