Is this even possible?

I realize that the great apes (gorillas and such)are only a hairsbreadth,DNA-wise,away from being true humans. Is it possible for a human male to impregnate a gorilla female? IF he did would she carry the foetus to fullterm? What would it look like?
On the other side of the coin, could you take sperm from a male gorilla and use it to impregnate a human female?If she carried the foetus to full term, what would it look like? Would it be more similar to humans or apes?

IDBBwho has waaaaaaaaaaaay too much time on her hands right now

One of the markers for typinf species is the inability for interspecies breeding. The difference in apes and humans are so far apart genetically that it is impossible for apes to inter-breed. that 3 percent is enuf difference to prevent that.

I’m not a biologist, but I do believe from highschool biology that one of the definitions of “separate species” is not having the ability to concieve of fertile children.
That would point to the answer being no.

IDBB, condoms prevent more than just pregnancy.

:D:D:D:D:P:P:P
[d&r]

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I’m not so sure about this, not that I’m gonna go and try to prove it. But it’s possible to breed separate but similar species, like horses and donkeys, goats and sheep. I would think that it probably is possible, although it is likely that the offspring, like in those mention above, would be sterile.

But, she ask about fertile offspring.

Generally, species can’t interbreed to produce fertile offspring (although there are exceptions to even this), but that doesn’t mean they can’t interbreed at all. Mules being living proof of this. Still, that doesn’t answer the question, and I don’t actually know the answer. Offhand, I don’t know how much genetic difference there is between a horse and a donkey. That wouldn’t give the answer, anyway, as what the differences are may be more important than how many there are. I’m frightened to think someone might actually test the idea, though. :eek:

Not strictly correct. According to the Biological Species Concept (only one of several possible species definitions) two forms belong to different species if they do not regularly produce fertile offspring in nature. There are lots of good species that will produce completely fertile offspring in captivity (lots of ducks, for example).

I too am not certain, but I suspect that horses and donkeys, for example, are closer together in genetic terms than humans and gorillas. Maybe more like Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalis. Two species,but close enough to interbreed.

It’s also worth mentioning that while that definition of species is convenient, it also doesn’t apply to reality well, if you want well-defined species.

Is a domestic dog one species or not? Miniature poodles can have offspring with beagles. Beagles can have offspring with German shepherds. German Shepherds can have offspring with wolfhounds, who can have offspring with Great Danes. But Great Danes can’t produce offspring with miniature poodles.

I’m not saying an ape and a human can have viable offspring. However, in practice, that definition of species isn’t used.

I had no idea. I guess the mechanics alone would be daunting, but I thought that using artificial insemination this would indeed be possible. Again, another experiment I’m not in any hurry to attempt.

This has been the subject of some of our more memorable threads of the past:

Can Humans and Chimps Breed?

Could a man impregnate a chimp?

is it possible for a human to make another species pregnant?

One of the biggest barriers to interbreeding between apes and humans is that we have different numbers of chromosomes. At the least, this would cause any offspring to be sterile (as in the case of horses and donkeys, which produce sterile offspring because of differing chromosome numbers).

It is unlikely, but it is not out of the question, that humans and apes could produce viable but sterile offspring, especially if the egg were fertilized in vitro (that is, in the lab) and then implanted in a female. It would be impossible to say in advance, without highly unethical experimentation, at what stage genetic incompatabilites might cause an embyro or fetus to die. However, although humans and apes are in different genera, viable intergeneric crosses have been produced in other groups.

I believe that man’s closest kin genetically is the chimp. And I’ve read that chimps are closer to us than they are to gorillas.

Shall we do some DNA testing on the moderators? :wink:

Don’t they show Jerry Springer in your neck of the woods? Ever hear of West Virginia?

If you can mate two animals AND they produce fertile off spring, you have a good case for a new species.

Otherwise, when it comes to Apes and Humans, there is no indication that the combo can produce fertile offspring, let alone any offspring.- talk show guests aside.

:smiley:

Am I the only one that cringes at the very thought of attempting such a feat? :confused:

[sup]The OP doesn’t even hint about the use of artificial insemination.[/sup]

What about this: could we implant a human fetus (already fertilized) in a gorilla?

Thanks for the cites,bibliophage.I will read them.:slight_smile:
Philster–they certainely DO show Jerry Springer in my neck of the woods and I adore him.:smiley:

IDBB

I don’t know if it’s possible boyohboy17, but it wouldn’t be any less human if it happened to survive. All the gorilla’s body would do is give it food and heat.

That could be possible. There have been cases in which an embryo from one species has been successfully carried to term by a female of another species.

It would make finding an appropriate Mother’s Day card a bit difficult, though.

That made me think. Could we implant a gorilla or chimp embryo(already fertilized)into a human? Or would the human body see it as invader and reject it,causing spontaneous abortion?

IDBB