Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum

https://aeon.co/ideas/should-a-human-pig...s-a-person

EXCERPT: [...] Scientists in the United States are creating so-called ‘human-pig chimeras’ which will be capable of growing the much-needed organs. These chimeras are animals that combine human and pig characteristics. [...] A chimera is a genetic mix. This means that, although the aim might be to isolate only certain organs to express human genetic material, the whole chimera will in fact comprise the genetic material of both humans and pigs. It is not a pig with a human pancreas inserted into it – it is a human-animal chimera, whose pancreas resembles a human’s, and whose other organs are a blend of pig and human. This could affect the chimera’s brain. Pablo Ross, the lead researcher in the pig experiment, is quoted by the BBC as saying: ‘We think there is very low potential for a human brain to grow.’ Even if in this particular case he is correct, given that some of this kind of research is indeed focused on neurons, it is possible that some future chimeras will develop human or human-like brains.

Where the genetic material of humans and animals are mixed, this might result in characteristics that we usually think of as having moral relevance. ‘Moral status’ is the standing or position of a being within a hierarchical framework of moral obligations. The moral status of a chimera entails relevant obligations to treat it in certain ways while it is alive, in virtue of its nature, and has implications for whether it is wrong to kill it. How should we respond to chimeras when we are uncertain of their moral status? At present, chimeras created in laboratories are destroyed as embryos. But in order to harvest organs, full gestation would be needed....

In popular cult fiction, it would likely spring to the imagination of Bebop from the teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the L.A.R.D. cops from Duke Nukem. A humanoid pig hybrid in both cases.

In the real world though it's probably far less adventurous, certain doctors have always been looking to use animal replacement parts in replacing human organs.

One of the main problems with organ replacement (be it man or animal) is there is always genetically different characteristics when it comes to the immune system. Antibodies from both the host and the donor can end up doing battle with other with the harsh consequence that an organ is rejected. This would mean for a chimera to produce the perfect organ it would actually require to be grown with no immune system, this in turn puts it in jeopardy as without any form of defence from disease it will more likely be infected by diseases that the host isn't effected by normally.

That would literally mean that to make the perfect match the hybrid would have to be make from the recipients DNA which would allow antibodies, however there is then the question of zoology in relationship to if the recipient while out in the environment is subject to other strains of disease and bacteria which their own body fights off as this would cause a desynchronisation in how their antibodies are with the chimera. (which might have consequences)

There is still the potential of Synthetics (Robotic Stingray) and of course cybernetics to be able to do the same job without the fear of making mistakes that usually inspire science fiction-horror stories.