# Questions about the recently born 85% sheep, 15% human hybrid **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920 "2007-04-06T00:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/21 "2007-04-06T13:16:28Z")
Human organs in sheep? I’m not gonna say it. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/22 "2007-04-06T14:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] [The scientist and his assistant](http://cache.boston.com/images/bostondirtdogs//Headline_Archives/MB_ndr_moreau.jpg) responsible say that it’s not as weird as it sounds. [/QUOTE] Well, of course they’d say that. It’s their project. As for me, I keep flashing on scenes from _Fullmetal Alchemist._ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/23 "2007-04-06T15:12:45Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] …they mature faster and have reasonably human-sized organs. [/QUOTE] Jimmy Joe Bob, is that you? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/24 "2007-04-06T18:01:15Z")
I notice that there are press releases on this dating from the end of March, and some from April 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, but oddly, there don’t seem to be any from the first of April. I wonder why they would have skipped on the news updates for that one day? 😉 As for the legal implications, my guess would be that, as long as none of the brain tissue is of human origin, it’s in the clear as an animal which can ethically be slaughtered for organs. If all the human cells were in the liver, for instance, well, there’s no ethical problem with killing a human liver (it’s done all the time, with organs that are excised due to disease). If there were human brain tissue present, though, the question becomes a lot thornier, and I suspect that the biologists, the courts, and all else involved will try to put off that question for as long as possible. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/25 "2007-04-06T19:05:23Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] As for the legal implications, my guess would be that, as long as none of the brain tissue is of human origin, it’s in the clear as an animal which can ethically be slaughtered for organs. If all the human cells were in the liver, for instance, well, there’s no ethical problem with killing a human liver (it’s done all the time, with organs that are excised due to disease). If there were human brain tissue present, though, the question becomes a lot thornier, and I suspect that the biologists, the courts, and all else involved will try to put off that question for as long as possible. [/QUOTE] Yep, and that’s why the experiments of putting human brain cells into mice brains are so controversial. Not to mention the problem if human chromosomes ended up in the gametes and if the animals bred. We’re in pretty scary, though exciting, territory here!! > [@solkoe](#): > > ``` > On a more serious side, humans are over 90% sheep anyway so what difference does it make? > > ``` Yes and no. Yes, all placental mammals are probably about 90% genetically the same, but it’s which particular genes are activated and where they are. One could imagine all the genes for encoding a human brain and cranium in a sheep, but none of the genes that determine other body structures. That might only bump the percent up a fraction, but that’s the fraction that could tip the scales. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/26 "2007-04-06T20:00:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Yep, and that’s why the experiments of putting human brain cells into mice brains are so controversial. Cite please? I hadn’t heard of these experiments. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/27 "2007-04-06T21:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Cite please? I hadn’t heard of these experiments. [/QUOTE] [Link](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/06/wmouse06.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/03/06/ixnewstop.html) > [@](#): > > It will look like any ordinary mouse, but for America’s scientists a tiny animal threatens to ignite a profound ethical dilemma. > > In one of the most controversial scientific projects ever conceived, a group of university researchers in California’s Silicon Valley is preparing to create a mouse whose brain will be composed entirely of human cells. > > Researchers at Stanford University have already succeeded in breeding mice with brains that are one per cent human cells. > > In the next stage they plan to use stem cells from aborted foetuses to create an animal whose brain cells are 100 per cent human. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/28 "2007-04-06T21:22:14Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Cite please? I hadn’t heard of these experiments. [/QUOTE] [Cite](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/12/AR2005121201388.html) and [Googlecite](http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=mice+brain+human+chimera&btnG=Google+Search) ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/29 "2007-04-06T21:28:04Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] Oh, the shumanity. [/QUOTE] These sheep puns have got to stop. I’m lanolin down in the sand. and I dare anyone to step up and come up with one worse than that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/30 "2007-04-06T21:33:15Z")
Am I the only one who’s reminded of that blended Skittles ad? “Hey, sheepboys! Get back to work!” ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/31 "2007-04-06T21:34:53Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] On a related note, how “human” does an animal/human hybrid have to be before it’s considered a person and not property? [/QUOTE] If it doesn’t bother Hal Briston, why would you care? ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/32 "2007-04-06T22:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] [Link](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/06/wmouse06.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/03/06/ixnewstop.html) [/QUOTE] > [@Sampiro](#): > > ``` > Cite and Googlecite > > ``` Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![Scornhole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Scornhole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scornhole)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/33 "2007-04-07T00:01:15Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I’m just hoping it will open up some doors for future marriage rights. [/QUOTE] If so, a lot of Republicans will suddenly by supporting stem cell research. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/34 "2007-04-07T00:14:12Z")
[QUOTE=Scornhole] If so, a lot of Republicans will suddenly by supporting stem cell research. [/QUOTE] nitpick: You meant embryonic stem cell research. It’s important to distinguish between the different methods of obtaining stem cells, and there are many methods that almost everyone supports. ---
**Author:** ![Scornhole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Scornhole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scornhole)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/35 "2007-04-07T00:25:54Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] nitpick: You meant embryonic stem cell research. It’s important to distinguish between the different methods of obtaining stem cells, and there are many methods that almost everyone supports. [/QUOTE] Point taken. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/36 "2007-04-07T06:46:42Z")
Could this experiment be done in reverse, because I think that’s a lot scarier. Although, I wouldn’t mind a white wool coat during the Boston winters. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/37 "2007-04-07T08:16:09Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] Could this experiment be done in reverse, because I think that’s a lot scarier. Although, I wouldn’t mind a white wool coat during the Boston winters. [/QUOTE] In theory there’s no reason why not, although I don’t think it would be ethical at the present state of the art. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/38 "2007-04-07T14:32:04Z")
Slight Hijack. I just finished reading [The Androids Dream](http://www.amazon.com/Androids-Dream-John-Scalzi/dp/0765309416/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0684339-6869749?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175956163&sr=1-1) by John Scalzi. Great read, funny and suspenseful, and now far, far to close to the truth. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920/39 "2007-04-07T15:25:39Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] **Hal Briston** , your day has come. [/QUOTE] There’s got to be some sort of **Hal** rule that his name has to be brought up in the first 10 replies or a sheep OP or it can’t be mentioned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-recently-born-85-sheep-15-human-hybrid/398920.md?page=1)