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Frankenstein Prometheus? or GENETIC ENGINEERING Frankenstein or Prometheus? M ary Shelley’s book “Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus” may have seemed far-fetched and horrific in the mid-1800s. But it seems her story of a monster in the form of a man, made from a patch- work of human spare parts and given life with an electric current is becoming a normal part of modern medicine. Soon amputees may be able to re-grow lost limbs. Body parts could be regenerated by stimulating the genes which originally caused growth in the foetus and in childhood. This has already been achieved in mammals, with the Arizona Genetic Laboratory causing a rat to re-grow a lost leg. Inthe early 1970s, techniques were devel- oped leading to the concept of ‘gene surgery’; PATENTLY HUMAN N ewanimal types will even be patented in the US, along lines similar to ‘Plant Variety Rights’ legislation. The US Commerce Department has adopted a policy whereby animals with new traits produced by reproductive technologies can be patented and Trademarked™ , ' “The decision says higher life-forms will be considered and It could be extrapo- lated to human beings,” says Charles Van Horn, director of organic chemistry and bio- technology in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Kidney, liver, heart and lung transplants are now commonplace. Surgeons at John Hopkins Hospital in the US have made medi- people suffering genetic disorders could be cal history by giving a new heart and lungs to ‘injected’ with new D.N.A. carrying the cor- one man while passing on his healthy heart to rect version of a malformed gene. DNA research and artificial intelligence) another with cardiac problems. CHOOSING SEX reports various animal gene splicing tech- Even extinct animals are being resur- niques and the implantation of replacement _ rected. In Berkeley, California, researchers A new process for separating sperm cells genes in two human patients to rectify a ge- have extracted aminute sample of the genetic into potential male or female children has _ netic blood disorder. blueprint of a quagga - an African zebra-like been developed at Sydney University. Sperm Genetic engineering is a technique creature extinct for a century - from an old is made up of XX and XY cells, named after whereby scientists snip out sections of the piece of salt-dried muscle. They cloned their shapes; an XY spermatazoon makes a genetic program (located in the double helix (multiplied) it in a culture dish for possible child male. Researcher Dr Ian White of the DNA chain) and insert replacement sections _implantation in a surrogate zebra. Veterinary Physiology Department hasfound _ from other living organisms - plant, animal or In America there are 23,000 frozen a way to separate the two types of sperm cell human. corpses (and an unknown number in the rest without damaging them. ‘RecombinantDNA’ isatechniquewhich _ of the world), each a potential cloning factory “This would have profound implications _ takes apartandrecombines genetic materialin _at the disposal of scientists. Mayhem could be for human society," acknowledged Dr White. any shape one chooses. unleashed through tailoring genetic diseases The technique is also expected to have a ANIMAL-HuUMAN Hysrips to attack specific races, creating subhuman/ profound effect on sheep and cattle industries. slave species, walking spare parts factories; Simultaneously, a team in Edinburgh has 1n 1984 the first new species ofhighermam- the possibilities and implications are endless. developed a genetic probe which can tellifa mal was produced; a goat/sheep cross Dr Margaret Tighe, chairperson of the Y chromosome is present inasingle sperm called a ‘shoat’, created inaculturedish Right to Life Committee has said: “Human cell. by splicing together the two animals’ strands _ beings are being subjected to experimentation “We can sex sperm, there’s no of D.N.A.. The resulting embryos were im- _ without their consent and | believe this is an doubt about that,” says Dr Ken Jones who _ planted into a surrogate female. abuse of human rights. One particularly dis- leads the Institute of Animal Genetics team, Laboratories in Australia and the US can _ tasteful aspect of this manipulating of human whick developed the probe from the genes of | grow human skin from a small amountofa _life in laboratories is inter-species fertlli- an Indian grass snake. patient's own skin. The new skin is particu- zation. In the US I know that government Ata recent meeting of the European So- _ larly useful for bum victims and inthe future —_ funding has been provided for the production ciety of Human Reproduction and Embryol- | we may see the emergence of Skin Banks. ofacreature known as the ‘Humpster’, ogy, Professor Robert Edwards (a leading Italian anthropologist Professor Brunetto through the use of male human sperm 1.V.F. specialiast) said he has used the probe _— Chiarelli of the University of Florence says and hampster ovum”. to sex human embryos just a few days after _ scientists are on the verge of breeding sub- Genetic engineering’s potential for the conception. Dr Jones told the meeting thathis human ‘apemen’ for menialtasksorto health or illness of human society is now technique should not be used to allow _ provide transplant organs. He claims an being explored. parents to choose the sex of their baby attempt has already been made in the US How far will we go to become our own for social reasons. involving lab fertilization of afemale chim- gods or devils? Ray Hammond, author of The Modern Panzee egg with human semen; the Frankenstein - Fiction Becomes Fact (which _ ©XPetiments were apparently called off in the - Nissa deals with the implications of recombinant ©4zly stages. Nexus New Times Two ~ M ary Shelley’s book “Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus” may have seemed far-fetched and horrific in the mid-1800s. But it seems her story of a monster in the form of a man, made from a patch- work of human spare parts and given life with an electric current is becoming a normal part of modern medicine. Soon amputees may be able to re-grow lost limbs. Body parts could be regenerated by stimulating the genes which originally caused growth in the foetus and in childhood. This has already been achieved in mammals, with the Arizona Genetic Laboratory causing a rat to re-grow a lost leg. Inthe early 1970s, techniques were devel- oped leading to the concept of ‘gene surgery’; people suffering genetic disorders could be ‘injected’ with new D.N.A. carrying the cor- rect version of a malformed gene. CHOOSING SEX N ewanimal types will even be patented in the US, along lines similar to ‘Plant Variety Rights’ legislation. The US Commerce Department has adopted a policy whereby animals with new traits produced by reproductive technologies can be patented and Trademarked™, : “The decision says higher life-forms will be considered and It could be extrapo- lated to human beings,” says Charles Van Horn, director of organic chemistry and bio- technology in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Kidney, liver, heart and lung transplants are now commonplace. Surgeons at John Hopkins Hospital in the US have made medi- cal history by giving a new heart and lungs to one man while passing on his healthy heart to another with cardiac problems. Even extinct animals are being resur- rected. In Berkeley, California, researchers have extracted a minute sample of the genetic blueprint of a guagga - an African zebra-like creature extinct for a century - from an old piece of salt-dried muscle. They cloned (multiplied) it in a culture dish for possible implantation in a surrogate zebra. In America there are 23,000 frozen corpses (and an unknown number in the rest of the world), each a potential cloning factory at the disposal of scientists. Mayhem could be unleashed through tailoring genetic diseases to attack specific races, creating subhuman/ slave species, walking spare parts factories; the possibilities and implications are endless. Dr Margaret Tighe, chairperson of the Right to Life Committee has said: “Human beings are being subjected to experimentation without their consent and | believe this is an abuse of human rights. One particularly dis- tasteful aspect of this manipulating of human life in laboratories is inter-species fertlli- zation. In the US I know that government funding has been provided for the production ofacreature known as the ‘Humpster’, through the use of male human sperm and hampster ovum”. Genetic engineering’s potential for the health or illness of human society is now being explored. How far will we go to become our own DNA research and artificial intelligence) reports various animal gene splicing tech- niques and the implantation of replacement genes in two human patients to rectify a ge- netic blood disorder. Genetic engineering is a technique whereby scientists snip out sections of the genetic program (located in the double helix DNA chain) and insert replacement sections from other living organisms - plant, animal or human. “Recombinant DNA’ is a technique which takes apart and recombines genetic material in any shape one chooses. ANIMAL-HuMAN Hysrips A new process for separating sperm cells into potential male or female children has been developed at Sydney University. Sperm is made up of XX and XY cells, named after their shapes; an XY spermatazoon makes a child male. Researcher Dr Ian White of the Veterinary Physiology Department has found a way to separate the two types of sperm cell without damaging them. “This would have profound implications for human society," acknowledged Dr White. The technique is also expected to have a profound effect on sheep and cattle industries. Simultaneously, a team in Edinburgh has developed a genetic probe which can tell if a Y chromosome is present in a single sperm nal In 1984 the firstnew species of higher mam- mal was produced; a goat/sheep cross called a ‘shoat’, created in a culture dish by splicing together the two animals’ strands of D.N.A.. The resulting embryos were im- planted into a surrogate female. Laboratories in Australia and the US can grow human skin from a small amount of a patient's own skin. The new skin is particu- larly useful for burn victims and in the future we may see the emergence of Skin Banks. Italian anthropologist Professor Brunetto Chiarelli of the University of Florence says scientists are on the verge of breeding sub- human ‘apemen’ for menial tasks or to provide transplant organs. He claims an attempt has already been made in the US involving lab fertilization of a female chim- panzee egg with human semen; the experiments were apparently called off in the early stages. cell. “We can sex sperm, there’s no doubt about that,” says Dr Ken Jones who leads the Institute of Animal Genetics team, whick developed the probe from the genes of an Indian grass snake. Ata recent meeting of the European So- ciety of Human Reproduction and Embryol- ogy, Professor Robert Edwards (a leading 1.V.F. specialiast) said he has used the probe to sex human embryos just a few days after conception. Dr Jones told the meeting that his technique should not be used to allow parents to choose the sex of their baby for social reasons. gods or devils? Ray Hammond, author of The Modern Frankenstein - Fiction Becomes Fact (which deals with the implications of recombinant - Nissa ee PATENTLY HUMAN Nexus New Times Two