The Danger of Hybrid Experiments, By Brian Simpson

Hybrid experiments refer to the creation of organisms that combine genetic material from different species, often humans and animals, through advanced biotechnologies like gene editing (e.g., CRISPR), embryonic manipulation, or chimerism (introducing cells from one species into the embryo of another). These experiments aim to push scientific boundaries, often justified by goals such as medical research, organ transplantation, or understanding human development. But the real goal is transhumanism, to remake human biology itself, by "playing God."

1.Examples of Hybrid Experiments

oHuman-Animal Chimeras: In 2021, scientists at the Salk Institute and Kunming University created human-monkey chimeric embryos by injecting human stem cells into macaque embryos. These survived up to 19 days before being terminated, intended to study early development and potential organ growth.

oPig-Human Hybrids: In 2017, the Salk Institute reported creating pig embryos with human cells, aiming to grow human organs in pigs for transplantation. The embryos were allowed to develop for a few weeks before destruction.

oMouse-Human Brain Hybrids: Research has involved implanting human brain cells into mice, resulting in animals with enhanced cognitive abilities. A 2014 study showed mice with human astrocytes (brain support cells) outperformed normal mice in memory tasks.

oHistorical Context: Earlier efforts, like the 1920s Soviet scientist Ilya Ivanov's attempts to crossbreed humans and apes, failed but reflect a long-standing fascination with hybridisation.

CRISPR and Gene Editing: Tools like CRISPR allow precise insertion of human genes into animal genomes, altering traits or creating functional human tissues.

Chimerism: Stem cells from one species are introduced into another's embryo, resulting in an organism with mixed cellular makeup (e.g., a pig with a human pancreas).

Embryonic Fusion: Combining blastocysts or early embryos from different species to create a single organism, as seen in the human-monkey study.

The stated purposes by mainstream science are:

oMedical Advancements: Growing human organs in animals to address transplant shortages (e.g., 122,000+ on U.S. waiting lists annually).

oDisease Modeling: Studying human diseases in animals with humanised tissues.

oBasic Research: Understanding developmental biology or evolutionary links.

The ethical and practical objections to hybrid experiments are multifaceted, rooted in moral philosophy, biological risks, and societal implications, especially for Christians.

Creating beings that blur the line between human and animal challenges the intrinsic dignity of both. Philosophers like Kant argue that humans have unique moral worth due to rationality; hybrids muddy this distinction, risking the dehumanisation of human traits or the anthropomorphising of animals.

Animals cannot consent to these experiments, and the resulting hybrids—potentially sentient—raise questions of rights and suffering. If a creature with human-like cognition emerges, its moral status becomes ambiguous.

Christian critics, including myself, see this as hubris, akin to the "Days of Noah" where unnatural acts preceded divine judgment. Even secular ethicists warn of overstepping natural limits without understanding consequences.

Biological Dangers

oUnpredictable Outcomes: Combining genomes can produce unintended traits—e.g., enhanced pathogens or aggressive behaviours. A chimeric organism might harbour viruses that jump species barriers.

oEcosystem Disruption: If hybrids escape or are released, they could outcompete native species or introduce genetic instability. The 2017 pig-human experiment raised concerns about "humanised" pigs developing unforeseen capabilities.

oHealth Risks: Organs grown in animals might carry animal viruses or trigger immune rejection in humans, undermining the transplant goal. A 2022 pig-heart transplant into a human patient, though not a hybrid experiment per se, ended in death partly due to a porcine virus.

Societal and Cultural Risks

oErosion of Trust in Science: Public backlash—evident in polls like a 2018 Pew survey where 52 percent opposed human-animal chimeras—could undermine legitimate research. Hybrids are a step toward dystopia.

oInequality and Exploitation: If successful, hybrid technologies might favour the wealthy (e.g., bespoke organs), deepening social divides. Alternatively, mass production could exploit vulnerable populations or animals on an industrial scale.

oMoral Desensitisation: Normalising hybrids might pave the way for more extreme experiments, like human cloning or designer babies, eroding ethical norms.

2.Practical Failures

oLow Success Rates: Most hybrid embryos fail or require termination (e.g., the 2021 monkey-human study's 19-day limit), suggesting the science is far from viable. Resources might be better spent on alternatives like 3D-printed organs.

oRegulatory Gaps: Oversight is inconsistent—Japan lifted its ban on human-animal hybrids in 2019, while the U.S. has no unified policy—leaving room for rogue actors.

Proponents argue hybrids could save lives, pointing to organ shortages or disease breakthroughs. Yet, the risks—biological unpredictability, ethical quagmires, and societal fallout—often outweigh speculative benefits. Science unbound by caution mirrors cautionary tales like Frankenstein. The "wrongness" isn't just moral panic; it's a rational fear of unleashing what we can't control.

In conclusion, hybrid experiments, while scientifically fascinating, are wrong and dangerous due to their ethical transgressions, biological hazards, and potential to destabilise society. They represent a gamble with stakes too high for humanity to bear. Yet, out-of-control science work, in bioweapons labs across the West continues daily, indicating an even larger problem. The problem will not be solved by ignoring the biotechnology question.