Scientists have created more than 150 human-animal hybrid embryos in British laboratories.
The hybrids were produced secretively over the past three years by researchers looking into possible cures for a wide range of diseases, the Daily Mail reported in its online edition.
The revelation comes just a day after a committee of scientists warned of a nightmare "Planet of the Apes" scenario in which work on human-animal creations goes too far.
A campaigner against the excesses of medical research said he was disgusted that scientists were "dabbling in the grotesque."
The 155 "admixed" embryos, containing both human and animal genetic material, have been created since the introduction of the 2008 Human Fertilization Embryology Act, the daily reported.
This legalized the creation of a variety of hybrids, including an animal egg fertilized by a human sperm; "cybrids," in which a human nucleus is implanted into an animal cell; and "chimeras," in which human cells are mixed with animal embryos.
Scientists say the techniques can be used to develop embryonic stem cells which can be used to treat a range of incurable illnesses.
Three labs in Britain at King’s College London, Newcastle University and Warwick University were granted licenses to carry out the research after the Act came into force.
All have now stopped creating hybrid embryos due to a lack of funding, but scientists believe that there will be more such work in the future.
The figure was revealed to crossbench peer Lord Alton following a parliamentary question.
He said: "I argued in Parliament against the creation of human- animal hybrids as a matter of principle. None of the scientists who appeared before us could give us any justification in terms of treatment.
"Ethically it can never be justifiable it discredits us as a country. It is dabbling in the grotesque.
"At every stage the justification from scientists has been: if only you allow us to do this, we will find cures for every illness known to mankind. This is emotional blackmail.
"Of the 80 treatments and cures which have come about from stem cells, all have come from adult stem cells not embryonic ones.
"On moral and ethical grounds this fails; and on scientific and medical ones too."
Josephine Quintavalle of pro-life group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: "I am aghast that this is going on and we didn’t know anything about it.
"Why have they kept this a secret? If they are proud of what they are doing, why do we need to ask Parliamentary questions for this to come to light?
"The problem with many scientists is that they want to do things because they want to experiment. That is not a good enough rationale."
인간+동물 ‘이종 배아’ 충격… ‘혹성탈출’ 현실로?
인간과 동물의 생식세포나 유전자가 혼합된 ‘이종 배아’가 영국에서 150개 이상 만들어진 것으로 드러나 충격을 주고 있다.
특히 영국 의학과학원이 지난 21일(이하 현지시간) 동물에게 인간의 특질을 부여하는 실험이 윤리적 문제가 될 수 있다는 경고가 나온지 몇일 만에 알려져 더욱 논란이 되고 있다.
영국 의학과학원이 경고한 내용은 인간의 정자와 난자를 동물과 섞어 교배하는 등의 인간과 동물의 경계를 완전히 허무는 실험이다.
의학과학원 측은 이같은 실험이 현재 법적으로 제재 장치가 없으며 규제없이 연구가 발전될 경우 영화 ‘혹성탈출’ 이 현실화 되지 않는다는 보장도 없는 것으로 보고있다.
영국 데일리메일은 25일 “지난 2008년 영국에서 인간 수정 배아법이 제정된 이래 인간과 동물간 이종 배아가 총 155개 만들어져 뉴캐슬 대학 등 3곳에 보관돼 있다.”고 보도했다.
또 “현재는 연구 자금이 부족해 실험이 중단된 상태이나 과학자들은 향후 이같은 실험이 증가할 것으로 보고 있다.”고 덧붙였다.
해당 과학자들이 인간의 줄기세포 등을 동물에 이식하는 것은 인간의 희귀병 치료 목적 때문이다.
다음달 개봉예정인 영화 ‘혹성탈출 : 진화의 시작’에서도 주인공은 알츠하이머 병에 걸린 아버지를 치료하고자 침팬지를 이용하면서 벌어지는 이야기를 담고 있다.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2011/07/325_91767.html
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