Human-animal Hybrids Are The Future

Human-animal Hybrids Are The Future

Introduction

Do you remember watching a sci-fi horror or drama were werewolves existed? Half-human and half-wolf? Well, that’s quickly becoming a reality due to human-animal hybrid experiments. It’s not as far out there as it may seem. Scientists are working towards the trials at this very moment, and it’s for the betterment and health for both of our species. These hybrids are called “chimeras.” These creatures are a mixture of animal and human cells, and yes, scientists should work towards creating human-animal hybrids for both of our kind to evolve.

Human-animal hybrids can be used to grow organs for transplants. There are about “6000 people on the UK transplant waiting list” and “just last year, 400 people died waiting for a transplant” (NHS. 2019). Experiments are working towards replacement organs, and human-animal hybrids are working towards the same goal. Human cells are injected into animal embryos. Since there is a gap in the developing embryo’s genes, the human-induced pluripotent stem cells fill this gap and create human organs when injected into a host. A biologist named Dr. Hiromitsu Nakauchi at the University of Tokyo launched an experiment to work towards this goal. The experiment successfully created a rat with a pancreas made of mouse cells. The pancreas was then transplanted into a mouse that had diabetes, and the mouse was effectively cured. The same process is being used to test if human cells can do the same.

Organ transplant is currently known for curing end-stage organ diseases in humans. The only problem is how and where to get the organs for transplanting due to donor organ shortage. This has been identified as a global problem limiting organ transplants. Another limitation of this is the risk of rejection of the organ by the recipient’s body cells. Some patients develop complications after transplantation. The immune system of the receiver starts opposing the new organ. When this occurs, the transplanted organ is destroyed after becoming incompatible. The problem has been solved with the introduction of a drug called immunosuppressants drug.

It might seem hard to get a willing donor if a patient needs transplantation.  An organization called NHS Organ Donor Register and National Transplant Register links willing donors to those patients waiting for a transplant. Its headquarters are based in the UK. Willing organ donors are successfully welcomed by the organization to help a large number of patients all over the world waiting for transplantation.

Since “chimeras” have a mixture of both animal and human cells, they are currently being used to produce successful organs. Rather than watching patients dying due to a lack of organs for transplant, scientists should manufacture their organs using the “chimeras.” There is a developed method on how to create these chimeras through the injection of a human cell into the embryo of any other animal. The produced organ has a high chance of being accepted in the human body. Scientists should encourage Human-animal hybrid experiments to create more organs in laboratories. The proposed plan to grow a pancreas that is made of human cells should also be considered.

The ongoing criticism that chimeras are ‘unnatural’ creatures should not affect the production of more organs to help the waiting patients. The research on the same should be carried further to produce creatures of high moral status. The human-animal embryo experiments being carried out by specialists in this field, and soon the problem of organ shortage will be solved. If Hiromitsu Nakauchi’s current research of growing human cells in mouse and rat becomes successful, this will boost surgery work, and there will be no further organ shortage.

But what is this ‘high moral status’ thing? How is it determined? Well, this refers to the concept used by researchers to ascertain the extent to which a creature’s interest should be taken into account. The explanation of mora status was given by Graham that “Most philosophers tend to think that what gives us moral status is sophisticated cognitive capacity. Others have a more inclusive view of moral status, and say things like ‘Well if an animal can suffer and feel pain and be harmed, that should count for something.'” This means that if something has a high capacity for suffering, it, therefore, deserve to be treated better and with a lot of care. And that is what calls for moral status. Trees have no moral status because they don’t experience physical pain like animals.

It is not the UK alone that has made Human-animal hybrid. Some other countries have tried to produce Chimeras, including the USA, but this has not been brought to term. The US allows researches for human-animal hybrids, but the National Insititute of Health has temporarily suspended funding this research since 2015. It is not an easy task to make human cells grow in another different species. This has been made successful due to advancements in the field of science and technology. Care and concern should be taken so to prevent the contact of chimeras’ cells with the brain of the patient receiving the transplant. This is because it cans potentially affecting the cognition of the person. But Nakauchi has confirmed that the necessary measures are being taken to ensure that these cells only go to the pancreas and not beyond. This has been made fruitful by the ‘target organ generation’ done by the researchers.

Any limitation to the growth of human cells in animal embryo should be determined and worked upon. Strategies should be developed to overcome any barrier to the development of Chimaeras. The researchers in this field should aim to understand the molecular basis. This will help to term the human-animal hybrid using species that are evolutionary close to one another. Chimeras should be used to pave the way for the required human organs in a different animal. The introduction of pig-human and rat-mouse embryos have moved this field forward.

Nakauchi and his team of researchers should pursue the necessary strategies to make pigs donors for human organs. The two have cells that are similar in size and shape. If this research becomes successful, there will be enough organs in hospitals, and the cases of death due to lack of a particular organ will reduce. The produced Chimaeras will be distributed to all hospitals that perform organ transplants all over the world.

Considering the moral status of the animal used to produce the Chimeras, it can be seen as exploitation of the animal during the research. This is the reason as to why the NIH announced the moratorium on the research. Why use Federal funds on research that exploits animal rights? Well, the NIH seems to be right in banning the funding of the research, taking into account the animals’ welfare. However, and addressing the elephant in the room, the humanitarian importance of this research should be well-thought-out. Should we come into terms with the current loss of 22 patients a day, among those waiting for an organ transplant?

The current dire organ shortage in the country is a pressing problem, and it should be addressed. Therefore, this research on the production of human-animal hybrid is both apparent and urgent. The creation of the humanized animal models is the best solution for the organ shortage. The NIH should not be that nervous about funding researchers whose study is meant to save more lives. ”When putting in this way, it is difficult to object to research that aims to save lives and relieve suffering. The argument goes: we have the opportunity to save lives, and we should do that. If we fail to do that, we are equally morally responsible (acts and omissions are morally equivalent).” As long as there are precautionary measures by the researchers for the safety and respect for the animals’ welfare, then the research should go ahead.

It is about the time, and now, for the federal government to lift the ban on funding these researchers. The National Institute of Health of the US recently announced the lift on the moratorium, and citizens have high hopes that the shortage will soon be solved, and more organs will be instore, waiting for any patient. The US researchers should be allowed to collaborate with UK researchers to produce better results in the study. Investing in these researches will attract more funds and should be allocated in the federal budget. Creating more organs by the use of chimeras will help to solve the pressing social problem. It is a matter that needs excellent attention and should never be ignored at any rate.

Conclusion

Hybrids are the future and the only solution for organ shortage. Chimeras have been tested and found to work. They could help to save more lives by surgeons. “In 1967, Louis Washkansky was the first person to receive a human-human heart transplant. The operation was groundbreaking, paving the way for further transplants, but a lack of organs is a serious problem. Chimeras could help surgeons save more lives.” But can someone volunteer to donate his/her only heart to save a friend or a family relation? Logically, this is impossible. Some organs exist unitary and cannot be donated. So if chimeras can produce sensitive organs, no life should be lost for the lack of an organ, whatsoever. Yes, human-animal Hybrids are the future.

References

NHS Blood and Transplant (2019). NHS. “Organ donation and transplantation” Retrieved from https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/what-we-do/transplantation-services/organ-donation-and-transplantation/