Countless ethical issues are becoming evident with the advances in biotechnology.
Similar concerns have raised after the recent experiment conducted by the Chinese scientists of implanting human brain genes MCPH1 into rhesus monkeys.
MCPH1 gene is said to be the component part of the evolution in the human brain.
According to the researchers, only 5 out of 11 of these genetically modified rhesus monkeys survived to the testing stage turning out with improved response and memory test as compared to the wild monkeys. However, rhesus monkeys did not evolve brains compared to the subjects in the observational group.
The research was conducted at the Kunming Institute of Zoology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. MRI scans depicted improved memory tests including memorizing colors and shapes on screen.
National Science Review published a Bejing-based journal last month.
According to the author, Our findings demonstrated that transgenic nonhuman primates (excluding ape species) have the potential to provide important — and potentially unique — insights into basic questions of what actually makes human unique.
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Researcher at Hong Kong University’s Center for Genomic Sciences, Larry Baum also criticized the research by saying that there is just a little difference between human and rhesus monkey genes. According to him, this study is reckless and a very risky road to take.
Although, Bioethics guidelines are listed in the provisional document issued by the Ministry of Health in China, implementation of which on China’s recent biomedical researches is questionable and under great debate.
“You just go to the “Planet of the Apes” immediately in the popular imagination,” said Jacqueline Glover, a University of Colorado bio-ethicist.
The fact frightens her thinking about empowering these brainy primates. She wonders what would they do and where would they live. She added these concerns while giving an interview to the MIT technology review.
Chinese biophysics researcher He Jiankui’s was met with skepticism and outrage when he claimed to have altered twin girls’ genes so they could not get HIV. Dr. He got fired after genetically modifying human embryo.
What do you think where the science is leading us to?
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