Nic Fleming of the Telegraph reports that part—human, part—anumal creatures are heaed our way from a lab somewhere, and no science fiction writer is involved. All in the name of embryonic stem cell research. British scientists have applied for permission to create embryos that are part—human, part—animal. Two teams of researchers submitted applications to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on Monday to carry out experiments in which human cells will be fused with rabbit, cow and goat eggs. They want to create early—stage "chimeric" embryos that would be 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent animal in order to produce embryonic stem cells — the body's basic building blocks that can grow into all other types of cells. Opponents called the plans "abhorrent" and claimed that scientists were undermining "the whole distinction between animals and humans". Chinese scientists have previously shown it is possible to harvest stem cells from...(Read Full Post)