Dana Gold
10-31-03, 06:00 PM
This is perhaps old news, but I remember sending a copy of it to ISNA shortly after it's debut in the news with the sentiment that "the mad scientists" are at it again. Please note the response by Nuala Scarisbrick that such is "disgusting", I gather that's how she feels about people who are born that way, also. There also have been articles I've read that in the future genetic manipulation of human embryonic cells will be possible so that parents may choose the sex of their offspring .. or "catch" any later ones they don't want!! It's not just the scalpel that is their tool....now it's the gene splicer. Terrible, terrible.
Last Updated: 2003-07-02 14:31:58 -0400 (Reuters Health)
MADRID (Reuters) - Scientists in the United States have created hybrid human "she-males," mixing male and female cells in the same embryo, outraging fertility experts and anti-abortionists.
Dr. Norbert Gleicher of the Foundation for Reproductive Medicine in Chicago and a colleague injected male cells into female embryos in research which they believe could lead to better treatments or cures for single gene disorders.
But their work provoked revulsion when they presented it to the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
"There are very good reasons why this type of research is generally rejected by the international research community," Dr. Francoise Shenfield of ESHRE said on Wednesday.
"I cannot conceive of any situation in which this particular technique would be acceptable, and if it cannot be applied there is not much use in experimenting with it," she added.
Gleicher and his colleague used male cells because they were easier to track as they studied the development of the embryos up to six days.
Their work also sparked outrage from abortion opponents who described it as run-away science.
"This is gross manipulation of human life," said Nuala Scarisbrick of British anti-abortion charity Life.
"The creation of a 'she-male' is disgusting, but not surprising."
Gleicher's study was not the only research presented during the four-day conference which enraged pro-life groups.
Last Updated: 2003-07-02 14:31:58 -0400 (Reuters Health)
MADRID (Reuters) - Scientists in the United States have created hybrid human "she-males," mixing male and female cells in the same embryo, outraging fertility experts and anti-abortionists.
Dr. Norbert Gleicher of the Foundation for Reproductive Medicine in Chicago and a colleague injected male cells into female embryos in research which they believe could lead to better treatments or cures for single gene disorders.
But their work provoked revulsion when they presented it to the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
"There are very good reasons why this type of research is generally rejected by the international research community," Dr. Francoise Shenfield of ESHRE said on Wednesday.
"I cannot conceive of any situation in which this particular technique would be acceptable, and if it cannot be applied there is not much use in experimenting with it," she added.
Gleicher and his colleague used male cells because they were easier to track as they studied the development of the embryos up to six days.
Their work also sparked outrage from abortion opponents who described it as run-away science.
"This is gross manipulation of human life," said Nuala Scarisbrick of British anti-abortion charity Life.
"The creation of a 'she-male' is disgusting, but not surprising."
Gleicher's study was not the only research presented during the four-day conference which enraged pro-life groups.