Humans and Ape Breeding

[mith]

But it makes it worthwhile doesn't it

[Dr.Stein]

Nothing is not worthwhile, particularly in science research

[lordmagnus]

Gentlemen and ladies,

This is a wonderfull discussion on the subject of human/ape interbreeding. I have come across information that the Soviets may have been attempting this as a spinoff of their eugenics projects with animals to create superior work/food animals for their people. The chief scientist involved was a Dr. Ilya Ivanovich Ivanov, he was experimenting with artificial insemination in the mid 1930's for the superior animals, and the preservation of endangered species. 1927 the RUSSIAN newspapers reported on a shocking experiment where Ivanov had attempted to inseminate Humans and Apes with each other species semen. he had even recieved funds to continue his experiments on the African continent.
There are also rumors of a Chinese doctor in Shenyang (NE China) who claimed to have succeded with Human sperm inseminating a female chimp. The 3-month old fetus and the mother destroyed by the Red Guard. He was supposedly jailed for scientific abominations. An 1987 issue of the Houston Chronicle newpaper had an article about the dean of a Florence, Italy University claiming he new of an experiment where scientists had succeeded in get a human sperm and a chimpanzee egg to fuse, and the creation of a viable embryo. The experiment was stopped due to ethical considerations.
Understanding that there is a differance in the Chromosonal numbers between Chimp/Gorilla and Humans, there seems to be some evidence that the crossing can still occur, except for the fact that the offspring is almost always sterile due to the imbalance. Sheep have 54, and Goats 60 chromosomes and living but sterile offspring due occur with 57 chromosomes ( http://members.aol.com/jshartwell/hybrid-mammals.html ). Then there is always a CHIMERA, you could fuse some of the dividing cells of two different but similar species embryos, but they would produce a sorta randomized Frankenstein like creature.

Questions? Comments? give me a shout

[b_d_41501]

Cool

[mith]

Do you have something more concrete than alleged rumors?

[lordmagnus]

It is to my regret that I have no concrete information. I only site that human, and chimpanzee/gorilla DNA is extremelely close, unlike sheep and goats which are further apart in the terms of chromosome numbers, yet produce a sterile offspring, it is within the realm of possibilty that the it could occur. Probably the only way this wille ver truely be setteled is for biologists, or some branch of scientists to actually try, document, and report and make available the documents wether they succede or fail at the attempt.

[edser]

If I recall a human rabbit embryo was created in a lab and destroyed due to ethical considerations. If that is possible I don't see how this wouldn't be.

[lordmagnus]

Yes,

I read that as well, the human rabbit embryo, I am not sure if that was a Chimera, or an actuall genetic manipulation. I believe it was a genetic manipulation, the adding of human genes to a rabbit embryo.

[Dr.Stein]

Anyone ever heard about "humanized antibody"?

[lordmagnus]

Would that be a correct assumption? The ability to make an antibody from one species that recognizes certain antigens, and allow it to fundtion in another species (human beings) without causeing an immunological response?

[lordmagnus]

Also think about compatibility. Some animals blocked other animals' sperms from another species so there is no chance to fuse gamets and generating embryo. Sperms from another species animals, sometimes even from samespecies, can be categorized as nonself, so the immune system will attack them and eliminate them before they reach their destination, the ovum.

Very true Dr. Stein, this could be bypassed with simple semen processing techniques, and the I.U.I fertilization procedure (Interuterine Injection). This is a fairly commonplace procedure in the agricultural industry, and with show animals as well.

[CadetMKultra]

Read the definition for species. Interbreeding is not supposed to happen outside of species but occasionally it might happen even across phylums such as when the sea squirt and the sea urchin mate.

Some think this is how anomolous larval forms came to be, such as catepillars.