Lesser Beings?

The University of Nevada is currently undertaking research where human stem cells are being implanted into brain of a sheep fetus while still in womb. At first instance, my reaction towards this was minimal. I know there is an enormous amount of research going on with stem cells. Scientists have been able to make paralyzed mice walk, created pigs with human blood, and grown human organs (ears for example) on the sides of rats. The benefits of stem cells and their programmable nature is invaluable in the cure of many diseases. However, what is particularly un-nerving is the possibility that these fetus'could have human characteristics. At the extreme, a human mind could be living in a sheep's body. While this has been looked at in many Hollywood movies, the reality of this is possible to todays scientists.

"The "idea that human neuronal cells might participate in 'higher order' brain functions in a nonhuman animal, however unlikely that may be, raises concerns that need to be considered."

Stanford University has also been invloved in this area of research. Current scientists are implanting stem cells and attempting to grow human brains in mice. Their thoughts are that this research would provide evidence, and insite, on brain development and degenerative diseases, such as Parkinsons. However, they still recognize that there is a chance or mice developing human characteristics. While law professor Hank Greenly, who chaired the ethics commitee when discussing the issue, said "the board believed that the shape of the mouse brain would prevent the human cells from creating any traits of humaninty." However, just in case, the committee recommended that the mice be closely monitored and that any mice with "human traits" be destroyed. Hmmm, contradictory motion don't you think...

The idea of a concious human mind in an animal such as a sheep makes me think. Would they be a lesser being? Would we be any better than them? Isn't what has man the dominant species on the planet has been out ability to learn, adapt, and and apply our knowledge. If animals have this ability what makes us better than them? Also, ff animals develop a concious human throught through this type of research, should that animal be tested on? In one respect the only difference between us and them would be the ability to communicate these thoughts...Doesn't this now blur the biological boundries between species that, until now, was quite pronounce?

Luckly though many scientists and government have put some boundries on this research before it moves to far.

For instance the US Pataent office blocked two anti-biotechnology activists attempt to patent the "humanzee", a hypothetical half human, half chimpanzee. (You may be wondering why 2 activists would be wanting to patent a bio-engineered animal. They believed that by controling the patent they would be able to stop research on chimps by having the patent on such an animal) The U.S. Patent Office proposed the invention was "too human". They cited the constitutional prohibitions against slavery, thus preventing the patening of people. Secondly, the National Academies is recommending a prohibition on the mixing of embryos of monkeys, and other primates.

My question is what about those other animals with intelligence? Dolphins are said the possess quite a developed intelligence level. Should the research stop at animals that look like humans somewhat? Where do you set these boundies? Have we headed down slippery slope past a point of no return? Hopefully not....