MadSci Network: Genetics
Query:

Re: How can you change a human into an human animal hybrid?

Date: Tue Jun 17 14:41:52 2008
Posted By: John J Peloquin, Fellow
Area of science: Genetics
ID: 1213656640.Ge
Message:

First, a hybrid to me, a geneticist, is the progeny of two inbred lines or
species. An animal that has parts from different animal species would be a
"Chimera".  I am unaware of any technology that could do this to humans
anytime soon, save for the implantation of organs from another animal- such
as a kidney or heart. For this process to be maintained would require very
potent anti-rejection drugs and surgery, unless the animal parts came from
an animal that had been genetically engineered to alter its immunological
appearance to the host to circumvent an immune response from the host. This
is not yet feasible, though there has been progress towards making pigs
etc. that are less likely to provoke an immediate immune response when
their tissues are transplanted into a human. 


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